Key experts from education and other sectors have advocated an inclusive and competitive educational system to raise GDDP by 10 per cent.
This call was made during Nigerian Economic Summit Group’s (NESG) pre-summit webinar, leading up to its 30th Nigerian Economic Summit.
Board member, Ms. Wonu Adetayo, said Nigeria’s literacy rate stands at 62 per cent, with disparities between urban and rural areas.
She noted the challenges, particularly access to primary education, where rural areas lag behind with only 35 per cent completion compared to 80 per cent in urban centres.
Adetayo stressed the need to address unequal access to education, disconnect in school curricula and industry demands, and integration of digital technologies into education.
She said over half graduates are underemployed due to mismatch between their education and labor market needs.
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“With 40 per cent of Nigerians aged 15 to 35, it is essential to offer quality education and skill development to mitigate unemployment risks”.
While digital tools can enhance learning, Adetayo emphasised need to bridge the digital divide. Currently, only 36 per cent of schools access digital learning, compounded by inadequate teacher training and poor infrastructure.
Secretariat Head at NESG’s Triple Helix Roundtable, Bolanle Ogunbamila, stressed collaboration between industry, academia, and government in addressing the skill gap and driving innovation.