Crescent University VC harps on STEM education, skills development as future of Nigerian youths

The vice chancellor, Crescent University, Abeokuta, Professor Ibraheem Gbajabiamila, has emphasised the need to develop Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) as the future of Nigeria’s youths.

Speaking as the guest lecturer at a conference organised by the Youth Empowerment and Support Initiative (YESI) of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Professor Gbajabiamila advised the Federal Government to back up the development of STEM programmes with at least 100,000 eligible graduates yearly, and establish study loan scheme for tertiary students across the nation.

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He lamented that Nigeria is still allocating less than 10 per cent of its annual budget to education, stressing that Ghana is the only country in Africa dedicating more than 25 per cent to education.

In his lecture, Gbajabiamila noted that in addition to the primary school feeding programme, government should enhance employment and youth entrepreneurship by creating short-term entrepreneurship capacity development centres in each state, as well as technology incubation centres in each state to support youth innovators.

Doing these, he said, would stem the tide of youth restiveness in the country.

In a related development, Professor Gbajabiamila was also conferred with an award as Education Ambassador by the Youth Empowerment and Support Initiative (YESI) of the Obafemi Awolowo University.

In his remarks, the convener and project director, Mr Tunbosun Olalekan, said the award was in recognition of Professor Gbajabiamila’s contributions to the development of education in Nigeria.

Earlier, Gbajabiamila had paid a courtesy visit to the vice chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Professor Eyitope Ogunbodede, with other members of the university’s management in attendance.