How do we intend to achieve Employment/Entrepreneurship
without EDUCATION?
How do we intend to achieve Health/Well Being without Education?
How do we intend to achieve Good Governance/Human Rights
without Education?
Tell me, how do we intend to achieve Peace and Security
without Education?
I'm interested in knowing HOW. My education and experience
shows me that the Level of Development of any Nation/Continent is a direct
reflection of the quality of Education in that nation/continent. With the
Epileptic and ill functional educational systems in our various countries in
Africa, how do we achieve Entrepreneurship or Employment? And if we are not
employed or self employed, how do we access health facilities and be in good
health since we won't be able to pay the bills?
If we are unemployed, poor and broke, how do we respect
human rights and even become leaders that are accountable (when we find
ourselves in leadership positions)? When we can't find or create our jobs,
can't guarantee our own well being, can't be trusted with leadership, how do we
expect a peaceful society?
Please, get me right first.
By Education here, I don't just refer to SCHOOLING; I mean a
total transformation of the mind to deploy inherent or acquired potentials, skills
and talents, which could be done in school (assuming the perks are placed in
the right holes) or informally, through self education, mentorship or any other
medium. As a globally recognized Education and youth development consultant and
advocate, my observations, work and study have shown me that no Nation in the
World has a good Society with a poor educational system.
Permit me at this point to draw some examples.
In 2011, Israel as a Nation had a population of 7.1 million,
no natural resources, plagued by enemies on every border and lived in a
constant state of war with enemies(external war), yet they produced more
startup companies than Japan, India, Korea, Canada and even the United Kingdom.
Ask me how that happened? Functional Education!
How Did Japan recover from the effect of the World War to
become the World's hub for Technology? Functional
Education!
How did India move from Housing the World's poorest people
to becoming the World's Medical Centre? Functional
Education!
How did China become the World's hub for trade and services?
Functional Education!
How did Singapore moved from being a Third World Nation to a
First World Nation in just 57 years? Functional
Education!
The city of Nagoles is halved by a fence. These people share
the same culture, way of life etc, yet, one is Rich, the other is poor. This
border separates the United States from Mexico. Nagoles, Arizona (The Rich
Part) is in the U.S, while Nagoles, Sonora (the poor part) is in Mexico. What
is the difference between these people (the same people) divided by a wall, who
share the same culture and way of life, yet one is poor, the other is rich? Functional Education!
Finland is the safest, freest, most stable country in the world.
She is the least in organized crime and has the most independent judicial
system in the World amongst other numerous positives. (For the Record, Finland
has the best Educational system in the world). How can a society be this
effective? Functional Education!
How would Africa move from a Continent hosting Third world
Nations to a continent of First world Nations? Functional Education!
How would Africa attain her desired peace and development? Functional Education!
With all these, I am overwhelmed and highly disturbed by how
most of the developmental strategies expressed by our African leaders do not
place a lot of emphasis on EDUCATION.
This is why I am concerned to know; what model of development strategy are we
adopting? Or are we just reinventing the wheels?
My humble suggestion and advice would be for the component
of EDUCATION to be seen as a fundamental tool for the achievement of the development
of Africa!
For the record,
I am Daniels Akpan
Activist || Advocate|| Consultant
Chief Executive Officer, CLEDA Africa and YALI Fellow
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