ASUU: Tertiary Education not for Everybody, says Gov. Umahi

Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State has stated that tertiary education is not meant for everyone, emphasizing that secondary and vocational education form the core foundation of a country’s educational system.

Umahi made the remarks on Wednesday while receiving a delegation from the Nigerian Police Trust Fund led by Dr. Ben Akabueze in Abakaliki.

Key Points from Umahi’s Statement

1. University Education is Not for Everyone

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   • Umahi emphasized that tertiary education is not meant for all citizens.

   • He highlighted that the main objective of any nation’s education system should focus on secondary and vocational education, which equips students for employment or entrepreneurship.

2. Concerns Over Federal Government Borrowing

   • The governor criticized the Federal Government, led by President Muhammadu Buhari, for borrowing over N1 trillion to meet the demands of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) amid the ongoing nationwide strike.

3. Education, Security, and Health as National Challenges

   • Umahi stated that Nigeria’s biggest challenges remain security, health, and education.

   • He argued that the education system is poorly articulated, and a focus on basic (secondary) and vocational education would better prepare citizens for productive roles in society.

Context

• The comments come against the backdrop of the ASUU strike, which has lasted over five months and continues to disrupt university academic activities across Nigeria.

• Umahi is also the chairman of the South-East Governors’ Forum, making his remarks influential in the region’s educational discourse.

Related Article: List of Polytechnics That Are Not Under ASUU

Quote from Umahi:

“University education is not for everybody and that is the truth. The basic education every country strives to attain is secondary school and vocational schools. These are the basic schools and when you have these qualifications, you will be able to use it either to start up something or to be able to use it to be employed.”

This statement underscores his position that Nigeria’s immediate focus should be on practical and foundational education rather than heavily investing in tertiary education for all citizens.