The Vice Chancellor, the Federal University of Kashere, Gombe State, Northeast Nigeria, Prof Umaru Pate has identified segmentation of education on the basis of income, religion and locality as a threat to National integration.
The university Don stated this while delivering a lecture with the theme: “Education and Nigeria’s National Integration in Digital Age: Matters Arising”, on the occasion of the 26th, 27th, 28th and 29th Combined Convocation of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi (ATBU) at the 1000 Seat Capacity Lecture Theatre, Yelwa Campus, Bauchi.
Pate explained that National Integration has two important aspects, namely; the existing pattern of state and government; and the formation and development of the character, mind, consciousness of every individual or citizens on the basis of common ideas, values, norms, law, beliefs and customs.
The PVC said education on the other hand refines and equips its recipient with values for human advancement that infuses knowledge and skills as well as promotes integration, builds and sustains confidence for togetherness.
According to the university Don, “Education is one of the highest ranking forces for our integration process at the national, state and local levels. Unity schools and the large number of federal universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, National Youth Service Corp scheme and the Joint Admission Matriculation Board(JAMB) are all federal government education policies and programmes to promote integration “
“However today, our educational system is under threat on the basis of commercialisation. In Nigeria today, 84 million citizens are living below the poverty line, how can they afford the kind of money our institutions are charging?
“Every year, Nigeria produces 3.5 million seekers of employment, the question is has the government established vocational schools that can cater for those who cannot afford the exorbitant charges by our institutions as well as making plans for these job seekers that are flooding the labour market?”
Pate revealed that the consequences of subverting the values of education in National Integration include but not limited to ethno-religious violence, insurgency, violent crimes, widespread corruption, poor governance, incompetence and worsening management of diversity and multicultural setting.
He suggested the way forward for the government to improve the management of diversity, adding that leaders in the nation should live by example, check digital technologies that promote hate speeches, make public schools attractive for the people and equip citizens with the right skills that will enable them to differentiate between right and wrong, positive and information.