Follow Us on Google
An educationist and Chief Executive Officer, Rimax Institute of Science and Technology, Chief Livinus Okwara, has pledged to promote Igbo, other Nigerian languages and skills acquisition among the youth.
Okwara, one of the earliest Nigerians to run a computer institute also pledged to establish skill acquisition centres abroad.
Addressing newsmen ahead of his coronation ceremony as Nna Ndigbo in Diaspora in Lagos, Okwara, said he would establish liaison offices for trade relation, technology and support investments to boost the nation’s economy.
According to him, to create and sustain the interest of youths in vocational education, the government should establish certificated courses that are practical in nature, which will allow those who have excelled in them to be rated like those who have relevant academic certificates.
He said such a step would encourage people who are gifted in technical and vocational areas, but who may not be too good academically to find their niches and contribute adequately to the progress and development of the country.
His added: “Some people are gifted, in fact some are geniuses that can do wonderful things with their hands, but may not be too good academically. We can devise a way whereby what such people can do can be measured or rated. For instance, somebody who is an auto mechanic, who can do a lot of things in a vehicle, based on his competence and experience, can be rated to have something that is equal to a first degree for instance.
“With minimal academic proficiency, such a person can even grow in the civil service if he is in the Ministry of Works for example. One of the reasons for this is that it could be a deficiency in English Language, the means of instruction, that may be the barrier to such a person from being good academically.
Other News
“We should de-emphasise academic qualifications. We all know that most of those who turned out to be great inventors are not necessarily first call academics. Those who are doing exploits, how many of them bagged catalogue of academic certificates,’’ he stated.
The educationist disclosed that his priority with the new title is to promote knowledge and impact the lives of Nigerian and those in Diaspora.
He further disclosed that he would create robust programmes that would enhance skills’ acquisition by Nigerians in the Diaspora.
The educationist said he would accomplish the programmes through strategic frameworks, including creation of skills’ acquisition centres in foreign countries, where Nigerians reside, to boost their upskilling and enhance their welfare in foreign the land.
Said he: “This will be unveiled in many countries across the globe where Nigerians reside, through acquisition and resuscitation of moribund factories by my team,” he stated.
His words: “a mantle will be handed over to me to fly to any part of the world to actualize this. These include going to the liaison offices of the countries that promise to take care of Nigerians when they come.”
He revealed that Nigerians would no longer be found wanting or as strangers anywhere you find them across the world, this will be achieved through the initiatives of my position as Nna Ndi Igbo in Diaspora, I am not only doing this for the Igbos, I will continue to work for all Nigerians, based on the bright prospects we see ahead.
