The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, has emphasized that Nigeria requires thinkers and builders, not passive observers, to drive the country’s growth and development. He also described the youth as invaluable assets with the potential to transform Nigeria through technological innovation.
Speaker Abbas made these remarks while delivering the Convocation Lecture at the Federal University of Technology (FUT), Minna, Niger State, on Friday. The lecture, titled “From Crisis to Prosperity: Harnessing Technology to Drive Nigeria’s Transformation,” underscored the strategic role of technology in addressing Nigeria’s socio-economic challenges.
The Speaker noted that Nigeria must embrace technological advancements to stimulate economic growth and improve the quality of life. According to him, the country’s over-reliance on traditional education pathways, at the expense of technical and vocational education, has hindered industrial development.
He lamented the declining quality of graduates from Nigerian universities, attributing it to systemic challenges such as inadequate funding, a shortage of qualified lecturers, and ethical issues like academic corruption.
“The lecturer-to-student ratio in Nigeria is far beyond global standards, limiting personalized attention and quality instruction,” he said, stressing the need for increased funding, better remuneration for academic staff, and stricter enforcement of ethical standards.
Speaker Abbas also called for a shift towards a more strategic funding model for universities, urging institutions to reduce dependence on government allocations and foster stronger collaboration between academia, industry, and government.
“The Nigerian government, under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, has introduced initiatives to support young innovators through funding, mentorship programs, and policies that encourage technological advancement,” he stated.
He urged Nigerian youths to embrace digital tools, participate in coding boot camps, and actively engage in technology-driven entrepreneurship to secure a better future for themselves and the country.
The lecture at FUT-Minna was coming barely a month after Speaker Abbas delivered the 14th Convocation Lecture at Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin, where he was conferred with an Honorary Doctorate in Public Administration.
