On Tuesday, I delivered the 1st Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) Distinguished Personalities Lecture Series, themed “Experiential Learning: Building the Wealth of the Nation.

The lecture provided an opportunity to address our educational model which is a critical issue at the heart of our nation’s development. I emphasised that Nigeria’s current education system, focused on rote memorisation, has hindered our progress, failing to equip students with the skills and competencies required for industrialisation and economic transformation. I called for a paradigm shift towards experiential learning, education that connects directly to real-world challenges and opportunities.

Nigerian universities seldom feature among the ranking of the world’s best universities and are yet to produce inventive graduates who can drive national development. This shortfall stems from an outdated system that does not prioritise productive skills or innovation. Experiential learning fosters critical thinking, creativity, and collaboration, empowering students to see themselves as problem-solvers and innovators.

As part of our commitment in Enugu State, we are leading this transition by allocating 33% of our annual budget to education, twice UNESCO’s recommended benchmark. This investment has facilitated the creation of 260 Smart Green Schools across our wards.

Through our Smart Green Schools, we have introduced the ‘cut-off point’, whereby we target children from age three, and begin to inculcate in them social habits, health habits, fine motor skills, and problem-solving competencies, introducing them to an experiential education system that helps them to navigate our rapidly evolving technological knowledge-driven world.

After three years of Early Childhood Education, having completed Nursery 1-3, our children complete Basic 1-9. During their twelve-year academic study in the Enugu Smart Green Schools, our children learn with interactive digital whiteboards, tablets, and computers; they are immersed in Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, Virtual/Augmented Reality, and Internet of Things, among others.

Upon graduating from the Smart Green Schools, about one-quarter of our children will proceed to the eight Science, Technical, and Vocational (STV) schools already under construction, which will focus on key competencies like Industrial and Information Technology, Building and Fabrication Engineering, as well as Industrial Agriculture, with the objective to become respected and skilled professionals, highly valued for their expertise.

I also announced a new policy directing all state-owned tertiary institutions to adopt experiential learning models in their planning, curriculum, and research efforts. Education, after all, is not just about passing exams, it’s about preparing our youth for a rapidly evolving, technology-driven world.

The transformation of our education system is not just a necessity; it is the foundation upon which we will build a prosperous and self-reliant nation. By prioritising experiential learning and investing in modern, skill-oriented education, we are equipping our youths to lead the charge towards a future defined by innovation, industrialisation, and sustainable development.

Tomorrow is here!

Barr Dr Peter Ndubuisi Mbah

Governor Enugu State