Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, has attributed Nigeria’s underdevelopment and high unemployment rates to the country’s outdated educational model, advocating for a shift towards experiential learning.
Speaking on Tuesday at the inaugural *Distinguished Personalities Lecture Series* hosted by the Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Mbah delivered a lecture titled *”Experiential Learning: Building the Wealth of the Nation.”* He criticized the traditional rote memorization system, which he argued fails to produce inventive and skilled graduates capable of driving economic transformation.
“Our schools, from basic to tertiary levels, have for years failed to equip young people with productive skills and competencies. This is the root cause of our underdevelopment,” Mbah said.
He cited global examples such as the U.S., China, and Germany, where significant investments in qualitative and experiential education have translated into economic growth and innovation.
### **Enugu’s Experiential Learning Model**
Governor Mbah outlined his administration’s efforts to reform education in Enugu State, including the development of 260 Smart Green Schools to integrate experiential learning from early childhood through tertiary education.
“We are creating a seamless pipeline where students progress from foundational learning to practical innovation,” he stated.
Mbah announced a policy mandating all state-owned tertiary institutions in Enugu to adopt experiential learning, with changes expected in curriculum reform, budgeting, and research.
“Experiential learning connects education to real-world challenges, fostering critical thinking, creativity, and collaboration. It empowers students as active problem-solvers,” he said.
### **Budget Commitment and Infrastructure Development**
The governor emphasized his administration’s commitment to education, allocating 33% of the state’s annual budget to the sector—nearly double UNESCO’s recommended benchmark.
“This funding has enabled us to overhaul both the infrastructure and pedagogy of our education system,” Mbah noted, highlighting the integration of interactive technologies like digital whiteboards, tablets, and robotics in the Smart Green Schools initiative.
He also revealed plans to construct eight Science, Technical, and Vocational (STV) schools across the state, starting with Government Technical College, Enugu, to equip students with skills in fields such as industrial technology, fabrication engineering, and industrial agriculture.
Mbah concluded by reaffirming his administration’s focus on education as a transformative tool, stating, “Quality education paves a path to a promising future, and we are laying the foundation for a prosperous Enugu State and a better Nigeria.”
