By Zik Gbemre
Is it not funny that every now and then, we hear of one new University, higher institution or Colleges being established across different parts of the country? From the University of Petroleum Resources to a Maritime University, there is always one higher institution or the other being established in the country, all of which produce more graduates every year to add to existing number of the millions of those waiting in line for job opportunities that are never really there. On the other side of the coin, it is sad that we do not hear of modern basic infrastructures and a conducive/attractive business environment being built/established and created by the Nigerian Government to create wealth and job opportunities for these teeming Nigerian graduates/youths.
The surprisingly thing is that most Nigerians are quick to be excited and full of praises for the Government over the establishment of more Universities, High schools and Colleges across the country. But many have not asked, or considered where will the many graduates of these higher institutions work in after graduation? For instance, where will all the graduates from the University of Petroleum Resources work in as they come out every year? Where will those from the Maritime University work in after graduation? This is worth considering when we take into cognizance of the fact that there is not enough petroleum infrastructure to create the job opportunities that would engage these graduates. And there is also no maritime infrastructure to engage graduates from the Maritime University. Many people are excited that a Maritime and Petroleum Universities are established in Delta State, but they are not excited to ask the basic question – where are the petroleum resources facilities to work in after our youths’ graduates from these institutions? Where are the Maritime facilities to work in? Apart from the old Warri Refinery and Petrochemical Plants, established so many years ago, there are no other oil and gas facilities to provide the job opportunities for petroleum graduates to work in the oil and gas industry. There are no Maritime facilities, apart from the old non-functional Warri Ports. We can see that at the end of the day, the Government is the one creating an unemployment crisis in the country.
The question is, what stops the Nigerian Governments that are establishing these higher institutions every now and then across the country, from not establishing and constructing the basic modern infrastructure, policies and attractive business-friendly environment which would equally create enormous job opportunities and wealth that will remove Nigerian jobless youths from the streets? We believe it is practically useless and unsustainable for any Government to continue creating/providing educational institutions for its youths, without equally putting in place the basic infrastructure and creating the business-friendly environment that would absorb the products from such higher institutions. With a record of about 293 higher institutions, which includes Universities, Polytechnics and Colleges, Nigeria can be said to be doing quite well in terms of having the number of higher institutions to cater for its youth populace. The only major problem with our higher institutions is in terms of ‘standard’ and the ‘quality of graduates’ – that is a huge topic for another day.
Agreed that, even with the current number of higher institutions in the country, that there is still need for more institutions of higher learning to be established to accommodate the growing population of the youths in the country, especially in the areas of ‘Research’ institutions of science and technology. However, establishing more higher institutions without creating the basic infrastructure and business-friendly environment, is like complicating the unemployment situation in the country. it is like the Government using their hands to create more unemployment crises situation for the graduates and the youths in Nigeria. We cannot keep having more graduates on our streets on a yearly basis, without any concrete plan in place as well to absorb them. It simply does not make logical sense.
It is situations like these, that are responsible for Nigerian youths looking for every illegal opportunity available to run away to Europe and America through Libya, and even in the risk of their lives. That is why we hear news on a daily basis of Nigerian youths dying on the Mediterranean Sea, the Sahara Desert or being stranded in Libya as slaves.
In my own view, the existing Universities, Colleges and higher institutions already established in the country are enough to produce the needed man power for the nation’s economic growth. All the Government needs to do is to focus on ensuring that the standard and quality of the education sector meets that of international standard. Education, and establishment of Universities, Colleges and higher institutions are very good. But the truth is that, the Government must be ready to also provide the massive infrastructure needed to create job opportunities and wealth for the nation through the graduates of these learning institutions, even if it means going into public/private sector partnerships to actualize this. The number of Universities, Colleges and higher institutions must match with adequate facilities in place to create jobs and wealth for all.
Zik Gbemre, JP.
National Coordinator
Niger Delta Peace Coalition (NDPC)
