Design curriculum to provide solutions, Oxford scholar tells FG

Grace Edema

A doctoral graduate at the Oxford University, Tobechukwu Nneli has advised the Federal Government to understand the challenges faced by the society and design an education system that can address those challenges.

Nneli who was the winner of 2018/2019 Africa Initiative for Governance Scholarship,  explained that such educational system should be matched with adequate funding, adding that his  experiences studying in both Nigeria and the United Kingdom were different, especially course structure and class composition.

Nneli in an interview with our correspondent said, “I seldom support ideas that are built on ‘global practices’ because I do not think countries should copy what others are doing simply because it is labelled global best practices. History has shown that the result of such is what development practitioners call isomorphic mimicry – the tendency of governments to mimic practices elsewhere giving the impression of capability when in actual sense it is mere window dressing. It is often better for government to look inwards; understand the challenges faced by the society and design an education system (matched by adequate funding) that can address those challenges. Of course, while doing that, government can always consider what is happening elsewhere but should never copy and paste solutions.” He also encouraged Nigerian students to be diligent and aim for excellence wherever they find themselves.

“Whether one is studying in Nigeria or abroad, commitment to hard work is a critical element for success and accessing other opportunities. I got the opportunity to do a master’s degree at the University of Ibadan (tuition scholarship) and later at the University of Oxford (on a fully funded scholarship) due to my previous stellar performances at the University of Benin and other schools. Focus on whatever you are doing now and make the best out of it,” he advised.