Islamic Scholar, Olagoke Urges Education Reform As Antidote To Quackery, Insecurity In Nigeria

The Founder and Spiritual Head of Shafaudeen-In-Islam Worldwide and initiator of the Olagoke Education Legacy Foundation (OLEG), Professor Sabit Ariyo Olagoke JP, has called on the Nigerian government to urgently revive the country’s education system to curb quackery and insecurity.

Professor Olagoke made the call yesterday while delivering a lecture titled, “Revive Nigeria Educational System to Stop Quackery and Insecurity Challenges” at the Shafaudeen Annual Stakeholders Conference and the grand-finale of the OLEG Annual School Quiz Competition, held at the Shafaudeen Centre for Religious Cooperation and Tolerance (CRCT), Wakajaye, Ibadan.

Addressing stakeholders, educators and students, Professor Olagoke emphasised the need for youths to embrace skill acquisition, entrepreneurship and value-based leadership as pathways to national development.

Professor Olagoke also called for collaboration among government, educational institutions, communities and the private sector to unlock the vast potential of Nigerian youths.

“If we revive the education system, we can stop quackery and insecurity and raise responsible leaders for tomorrow.”

“The youth need to go into conscious study of various opportunities, from farm produce to farm products, including planting, harvesting, marketing and development. Through these efforts, cottage industries can spring up, using due process in business transactions,” he said.

Olagoke urged young people to shun idleness and political manipulation, stressing that discipline and hard work would define their future relevance.

“Your records of past lifestyle will surely count in the future. Be disciplined, be reliable and follow due process in all transactions, whether in business or politics,” he said.

In his remarks, Chairman of the occasion and former Provost of the College of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Professor Olu Adeokun, commended the organisers for sustaining the annual stakeholders’ conference.

He stressed the importance of entrepreneurship education in higher institutions, adding that: “Universities and other tertiary institutions should take entrepreneurship training as a matter of importance and relevance. The skills acquired will serve as sources of employment and income for graduates in the future.”

Speaking as a panel discussant, the Principal Consultant and Chief Executive Officer of WorkLife Training Professionals, Dr. Sunday Ade Bello, described Nigeria’s youth crisis as a systemic failure rather than a youth problem.

“When education collapses, standards collapse, values collapse and competence collapses. Our institutions are producing certificates instead of competence, and insecurity thrives where hope is absent and skills are irrelevant.”

He advocated curriculum re-engineering, value-based leadership development and stronger links between education and industry, noting that: “The future of Nigeria will be determined by what we do with our youth today.”

Other discussants, including the Assistant Secretary of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Oyo State chapter, Mrs Rofiah Animashaun; the Chairman of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Oyo State chapter, Comrade Emiola Alex; and Alhaji Iyanda Soliu, who represented the Divisional Police Officer of Alabebe Police Station, Iwo Road, charged students to remain focused, disciplined and dedicated to their studies.

The event climaxed with the presentation of prizes and certificates to winners of the 23rd edition of the OLEG Annual Secondary School Quiz Competition.

In the senior category, Hamzat Daniel of Baptist Medical Centre Secondary School, Saki, emerged first, followed by Lawal Rodiat of Yejide Girls Grammar School, Molete, Ibadan, in second place. Onifade Inumidun and Ogundepo Mohammed finished third and fourth respectively.

For the junior category, Nabilah Shittu of Islamic College of Nigeria, Ibadan, took first position, while Adewoye Covenant of Faith Initiative Secondary School, Oyo, came second. Peter Naomi of St Anne’s Secondary School, Molete, Ibadan, and Ajibona Isiaq of Baptist Secondary School, Ibadan, placed third and fourth respectively.

A total of 217 secondary schools participated in the junior category, while 175 schools competed in the senior category.