LAUTECH 14th Alumni Lecture, titled 'Creating a Responsive Economy in Handling Global Challenges Through Qualitative University Education in the Post-Pandemic Era In Nigeria

 LAUTECH 14th Alumni Lecture, titled 'Creating a Responsive Economy in Handling Global Challenges Through Qualitative University Education in the Post-Pandemic Era In Nigeria. 

Presently, tertiary education is in the concurrent legislative list, meaning that in Nigeria, the law allows for both federal-run universities and state-run universities.

 But in Oyo State, we are proud to have the first university in Nigeria, a federal-run institution. But we also have our state-run universities including the jointly-owned Ladoke Akintola University of Technology or LAUTECH for short. Additionally, we have private universities.

 All institutions provide what has been described as "citadels of learning and development," which shape "the entire intellectual and professional life of a country." We can then identify the link between qualitative university education and a responsive economy: the economy of a nation is dependent on the capacity and capabilities of its workforce.

 In a country which has skilled workforce must have a responsive economy. Conversely, a nation with an uneducated workforce will be left with a predominantly informal economy.

The Nigeria economy is just like a new baby that simply refuses to crawl or walk. Imagine yourself as a parent of a child who is not attaining this milestone. So, Nigeria should be worried. We should be concerned about helping our economy crawl, walk, and then run. This calls for some long-term policy thinking.

 Looking at some of the "fundamental drivers of economic growth" is our university education system, we should be thinking of comprehensive reform programs that will reposition our universities as growth drivers. Policymakers should be concerned about the type and quality of education that we are offering to the youths. It should be an education that prepares them to be active drivers of our economy.