A professor from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Muhammed Kabir Isah, has called on Nigerians to embark on Information Communication Technology and digital technology revolution as basis of education in line with the rapidly changing world.
Delivering a lecture at the 2022 National Convention of the Government College, Kaduna Old Boys Association (Kadoba), with the theme “Education: The Pathway of Development in Nigeria”, Professor Isah said the world is changing and Nigeria must change with it, adding that education is the hub of any development and Nigeria should not lag behind.
“The world is changing, UK is going into digital currency, internet is changing to metaverse. Technology is driving the world. The world is now knowledge and information based. This is the digital age. Nigeria’s education to GDP ratio is 0.19%, China’s education to GDP ratio is 38.5%. We are not serious, yet we have the resources. Nigeria accounts for the second largest skilled professionals in the world. Nigeria is taking over medical science in the UK and in Canada.
“In the next 10 years, internet will cease to exist, internet will move to metaverse. You will do everything from your bedroom study, work, trade, business, everything. We need to spend money on education, on industrialisation, we should train our children on skills in computer education, that is the way. Government must fund education because education is the power of any society. Education is the power that mitigates Boko Haram, the power that overran banditry, the key that unlock poverty.
“We are not taking education serious in Nigeria, Pakistan is using education to counter extremism, that is similar to what Borno state government is doing because education is the key to success of any society. The Emir of UAE and King of Saudi Arabia Kingdom came to University of Ibadan Teaching Hospital for treatment in the 70s. In 1977 NASA launched two drones Voyager 1 and Voyager 2. These Voyagers were achieved through education. Our text books on Physics, Geography, Maths and Chemistry will change in the next 10 years,” he said.
Special guest of honour, Governor Nasir el-Rufai, who was represented by the Kaduna state Commissioner for Commerce and Business Innovation, Prof. Kabir Mato, said his administration has spent massively in the renovation of school infrastructure, since 2015.