In a sharp critique of Nigeria’s education system, Alex Onyia, CEO of Educare, recently highlighted a troubling incident involving graduating engineering students at Imo State University (IMSU) in a post on X (formerly Twitter). Onyia’s message has since gone viral, sparking widespread debate on the state of Nigerian higher education and the employability of its graduates.
Onyia detailed an incident at a graduation party for IMSU’s final-year Mechanical Engineering students, where the generator supplying power to the event broke down.
Surprisingly, Onyia claimed that none of the engineering students had the skills to fix the malfunction, forcing them to search for an external artisan to resolve the issue.
He noted, “The Mechanical Engineering final-year students of IMO State University were hosting a graduation party. At some point, the generator developed a fault. None of the students had a clue on how to fix it. They all had to start searching for an artisan to fix it. They eventually found someone that came and fixed it.”
Onyia’s remarks underscore a deep-seated concern about the quality of Nigeria’s educational output, particularly in technical fields.
He went on to say, “The quality of the graduates in most of our state universities and in some federal universities are unemployable. I call many of them, illiterate graduates.”
As the CEO of Educare, a leading educational consultancy in Nigeria, Onyia’s words carry significant weight.
His critique has sparked online conversations, with many Nigerians questioning the curriculum standards, teaching methodologies, and practical skill development in the nation’s universities. Some echoed Onyia’s sentiments, noting that the inability to perform basic tasks related to their field of study could reflect a deeper issue in the educational system.
While Onyia’s post has spurred criticism, others argue that the situation reflects broader systemic problems within Nigeria’s educational framework, including outdated curricula, inadequate funding, and a lack of hands-on training for students.
As the debate continues, Onyia’s post has become a rallying point for those advocating for urgent reforms in Nigeria’s educational institutions. Many are calling on the government, educational bodies, and private sector stakeholders to re-evaluate and improve the nation’s approach to technical and vocational education, ensuring graduates are equipped with both theoretical knowledge and practical skills necessary for today’s job market.
