USOSA Sports activities Organising Committee: L-R: Chioma Aninwe, Chidi Anene, Solomon Sokolo, and Vivian Ozoekwe
Michael Magaji, president-general of the Unity Faculties Outdated College students Affiliation (USOSA), has raised the alarm over the state of public schooling in Nigeria, calling for pressing reforms and adoption of the sensible college mannequin.
Magaji, whereas peaking on the forty fourth USOSA Plenary Session held in Enugu, complained in regards to the lack of primary infrastructure in lots of public colleges and described the scenario as a nationwide emergency.
“Let’s be sincere. The current state of public schooling in Nigeria shouldn’t be the place it ought to be. Based on UNESCO, over 20 million Nigerian youngsters are at present out of faculty. That’s not only a statistic—it’s a era in danger,” Magaji said.
He recommended the Enugu State Authorities for main the cost in digital and sensible schooling, describing the initiative as a daring and visionary step towards revitalising public schooling nationwide.
“In simply eleven months since USOSA held an Schooling Summit on digital studying and transformation for the Twenty first-century little one, we’re already seeing motion. The transfer from technique to observe in Enugu is commendable,” he stated.
Magaji praised Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah for what he described as “elevating the stakes in schooling service supply,” and urged different states to emulate the sensible college mannequin being pioneered within the state.
He emphasised that sensible colleges promote interactive and inventive studying environments, the place college students are geared up with essential pondering, digital literacy, and innovation abilities—necessities for as we speak’s world.
“This new pivots from conventional one-way instructing to a extra dynamic, student-centered studying mannequin. It’s not nearly studying; it’s about co-creating improved studying outcomes,” Magaji defined.
He recognized entry as a key problem and known as for political will, strategic funding, and collective motion to harness the untapped potential throughout the schooling sector.
The USOSA president reaffirmed the affiliation’s dedication to contributing to nationwide growth by means of schooling advocacy and partnerships.
“We are going to proceed to push for sensible, impactful schooling insurance policies at each the federal and sub-national ranges. Past elevated funding, we may even advocate for clear governance and efficient monitoring of instructional investments,” he stated.
Magaji additionally inspired alumni throughout the nation to actively assist their former colleges, not solely by giving again however by “giving ahead.”
“Allow us to undertake colleges, mentor college students, and fund innovation labs in our alma maters. Alumni should be a part of the answer,” he added.
Chidiebere Onyia, secretary to the Enugu State Authorities, who represented Governor Mbah, stated that the sensible college initiative was central to the governor’s broader imaginative and prescient of reworking Enugu’s economic system.
He famous that whereas some had initially dismissed the governor’s bold plans, together with elevating the state’s GDP from $4.4 billion to $30 billion, as theoretical, the outcomes are actually evident.
“What we’re doing goes past the standard 4–8-year political cycle. These sensible inexperienced colleges are a part of a long-term technique to construct a studying tradition that helps financial progress, reduces unemployment, and enhances safety,” Onyia stated.
The forty fourth USOSA plenary introduced collectively alumni, authorities officers, educators, and tech innovators to chart a sustainable path ahead for schooling in Nigeria.
