Nigeria has potential to export education: Ex-minister Chidoka

From Fred Ezeh, Abuja

Mr Osita Chidoka, Former Minister of Aviation and Chancellor of the Athena Centre for Policy and Leadership, has challenged the government to drive policies and programmes that would encourage the interest of foreigners, particularly students, in Nigeria’s education system.

He insisted that Nigeria has what it takes to manufacture and export education to the world if there could be additional push and support from the government, stressing that southeast Nigeria can lead in the task.

A statement from Athena Centre for Policy and Leadership indicated that the suggestion was contained in Mr Chidoka’s keynote address titled “Let’s Build and Export Education: A Vision for Southeast Nigeria” delivered at the Southeast Educators Conference held in Enugu.

Mr Chidoka emphasised that Southeast Nigeria, with its high literacy rates and robust basic education performance, is ideally positioned to become a leading educational hub in Nigeria and Africa.

He said: “We need to reverse this trend where Nigerians predominantly seek education abroad. Over 71,753 Nigerians are studying overseas, of which about 11,000 are in African schools. This trend should be reversed, and the southeast can lead in the project.

“Southeast Nigeria can reverse the current trend of educational emigration, and also become a prime destination for global learners if the leaders adopt the necessary measures amongst other proposals from the conference,” Chidoka said.

He further suggested enhanced regulatory oversight which will enable state governments to bolster education quality through robust inspections and adequate supervision; tax reform for educational institutions which will simplify compliance by consolidating taxes into a single system for private schools, thus enhancing ease of business and inviting more investment.

He also suggested global benchmarking; infrastructure and security improvements which are fundamental to attracting global talents and students and making critical enhancements to ensure safe and conducive learning environments.

“We also need innovative training and scholarships which will attract top talent and offer scholarships to support less privileged students in the cost-reflective public tertiary education; as well as school autonomy, thereby, empowering schools with more decision-making authority to foster innovation and community responsiveness.”