Dr Simon Agwale, Chief Executive Officer of Innovative Biotech Nigeria, has called for a fundamental reform of Nigeria’s education system, with greater emphasis on practical skills, innovation, critical thinking and productivity rather than certificates and examinations.
Agwale, who is also Vice-Chair of the African Vaccine Manufacturing Initiative, said the reform should begin from primary education by strengthening literacy, numeracy, science, creativity, communication, problem-solving and digital literacy.
He urged schools to move away from excessive memorisation towards inquiry, experimentation, teamwork and practical learning. He also called for greater investment in teachers, classrooms, laboratories, libraries, electricity, internet access and other learning resources.
According to him, secondary education should expose students to emerging fields such as artificial intelligence, coding, biotechnology, agriculture, engineering, entrepreneurship, financial literacy, climate studies and vocational education.
Agwale also advocated stronger technical and vocational pathways in areas including manufacturing, construction, ICT, healthcare support, agriculture and renewable energy. He said university education should not be seen as the only route to success, as skills-based training could lead to employment, entrepreneurship or further education.
The expert called for an assessment system that combines examinations with practical projects, continuous assessment, innovation, teamwork and problem-solving. He said technology should expand access to quality education, particularly in underserved communities, while complementing rather than replacing teachers.
Agwale said reforming education to unlock the potential of Nigeria’s young population was essential to economic development, technological advancement, national security and the country’s future competitiveness.
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