The air at the graduation and prize-giving ceremony of the Pacesetters’ School in Abuja on Sunday was filled with the excitement and hope that marks such occasions. For the graduating students, it was a moment of triumph; for their parents, a time of immense pride. Amidst this celebration, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, attending as a special guest, delivered a powerful and urgent message that went beyond simple congratulations. He called for a fundamental and nationwide review of Nigeria’s education curriculum, arguing passionately that the country must shift its focus from producing job seekers to nurturing a new generation of job creators.
From Job Seekers to Job Creators
Speaking with the authority of an elder statesman and a long-time investor in education, Atiku asserted that Nigeria’s path to sustainable development, national unity, and economic prosperity lies in a deliberate and massive investment in its human capital. He painted a clear picture of the problem at hand: an educational system that, for decades, has prioritized rote memorization and theoretical knowledge over practical skills and real-world application. This system, he explained, often leaves graduates with impressive certificates but without the necessary tools to navigate the complexities of the modern economy. In a country with a large and growing youth population, continuing with this outdated model is a recipe for widespread unemployment and frustration.
Atiku argued that the solution lies in embedding entrepreneurship education into the very fabric of the curriculum, from primary school all the way through to the university level. He clarified that teaching entrepreneurship is not merely about instructing students on how to start a business. It is about cultivating a mindset—an entrepreneurial spirit—that encourages innovation, critical thinking, problem-solving, and resilience. He believes that if young Nigerians are taught to identify problems in their communities and are empowered to create solutions for them, they will naturally become engines of economic growth. This shift, he contended, would transform them from passive participants in the economy into active architects of their own futures and the nation’s progress.
A Personal Story: How American Teachers Shaped His Vision
To illustrate the profound impact that a different educational approach can have on a young mind, Atiku took a moment to reflect on his own life journey. He shared a deeply personal story from his formative years, linking his own success directly to an unexpected change in his schooling. Atiku recounted his experience as a secondary school student in 1961, a pivotal time just after Nigeria had gained its independence from Britain. As the British teachers who had dominated the education system began to leave, they were replaced at his school by young, energetic American teachers from the Peace Corps. This transition, he explained, was more than just a change of faces; it was a complete change in the philosophy of learning.
“They played a significant role in shaping my academic foundation,” Atiku revealed to the attentive audience. “That influence stayed with me and inspired me to adopt an American-style curriculum in my own schools.”
He elaborated on this point, describing the American teachers’ methods as a breath of fresh air. Instead of demanding quiet obedience and rote learning, they fostered an environment of curiosity and open debate. They encouraged students to ask “why,” to challenge assumptions, and to engage with subjects interactively. This Socratic method of teaching taught him not just what to think, but how to think critically and independently. The experience left an indelible mark on him, convincing him that the goal of education should be to empower and liberate the mind, not just fill it with facts. It was this foundational belief that would later guide him to establish his own world-class educational institutions, most notably the American University of Nigeria (AUN) in Yola, a university explicitly designed to cultivate leadership, ethics, and entrepreneurship.
Education: The Key to National Unity and Development
Atiku connected his personal history to the present-day needs of Nigeria. He argued that the country must be bold enough to move away from its colonial-era educational structures and embrace modern, proven methods that prepare students for a globalized, technology-driven world. He described education as the most powerful and effective weapon for human development, a key that unlocks countless doors of opportunity. A well-educated populace, he stated, is the bedrock of a strong nation. It is through education that young people gain the confidence and competence to become the engineers who build our infrastructure, the doctors who protect our health, the innovators who solve our most pressing problems, and the leaders who guide us toward a better tomorrow.
Furthermore, he linked the issue of educational reform directly to the challenge of national unity. When young people from every corner of the country—regardless of their ethnicity, religion, or social background—are brought together in schools that provide them with equal opportunities and a shared sense of purpose, the seeds of unity are sown. An economy that provides ample opportunities for its youth is also a more stable and peaceful one. When young people are busy building businesses, pursuing careers, and contributing positively to society, they are far less likely to be drawn into divisive rhetoric or destructive activities.
A Message to the Graduating Students
In Atiku closing remarks, he turned his attention directly to the graduating students of Pacesetters’ School. He congratulated them on their hard-earned success but gently reminded them that their graduation was not an endpoint, but a significant milestone on a much longer journey. He encouraged them to remain focused, disciplined, and hungry for knowledge as they advance to higher learning. He urged them to dream big, to be audacious in their ambitions, and to never forget their responsibility to use their education not just for personal gain, but for the betterment of their communities and their country.
Conclusion
Atiku Abubakar’s address was far more than a standard graduation speech. It was a clear, passionate, and detailed policy proposal delivered from a platform of personal conviction and experience. He presented a compelling vision for a new Nigerian educational system—one that values practical skills as much as academic knowledge, that celebrates creativity and innovation, and that is fundamentally geared toward producing a generation of self-reliant, problem-solving entrepreneurs.
His call to action was a challenge to Nigeria’s policymakers, educators, parents, and students to collectively reimagine what education can and should be, in order to secure a prosperous and unified future for all.
