Education

World Bank photo

By

Muhammad Auwal Ibrahim

It is worrisome that the falling standard of education in Nigeria keeps growing bigger by the day. Asian countries like South Korea and China have advanced in terms of technology. Their governments see investment in education as a priority. My admiration of their achievements made me conclude writing this essay to express my concern for education and outline its importance. My choice of education as essay topic is also because it covers all aspects of life like agriculture, ICT, science, etc, all of which are academic fields.

According to the Oxford English dictionary, education is the process of receiving or giving systematic instruction, especially at school or university. Wikipedia defines education as the process of facilitating learning, acquisition of knowledge, skills, values, beliefs and habits.

Education plays a significant role in preparing leaders of tomorrow. Nelson Mandela says education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world. Albert Einstein also claimed that once you stop learning you start dying. There is no doubt that education boosts the nation’s economy through acquiring skills necessary to make productive citizens of a civilized society. Increasing knowledge of the youth can produce changes thereby making them productive for attaining business innovation, political and economic objectives. As we can see, Asian countries are leading the world in information technology. The question we should ask ourselves is: How do we produce intellectuals that can compete with their peers from other parts of the world? It should be through exemplary education.

Nigeria’s economy has been fluctuating whenever the price of oil drops at the international market. But if the government will pay more attention to the educational sector, our economy will be stable. The world economy is changing from oil-based to knowledge-based. Asian countries like South Korea and Japan don’t have natural resources like oil but they are talented and their governments invest much in their educational sector. This is what makes them dragons of Asia. Why can’t we do this? Is it the intelligent minds that we are lacking? We just need to cooperate with one another to build our state irrespective of our differences.

Education is what the youth can use for better development not only in Bauchi state but in the whole world. Education holds the key for our future. But much of the work lies in the hands of the government and parents. They should equip the students with good learning facilities and create a conducive learning atmosphere for studies. If our government could do this, the youths as the back bone of the society are ready to collaborate with them in developing our dear state through learning.

Qualitative education can affect one’s personal life, community and generation entirely. Moreover, the importance of education in the 21st century is that the world is at a stage where opportunity will only come from learning. Education can make one achieve his goals in life because it is the key to success.

Furthermore, education improves the development of any society, hence the need for the educated ones to occupy significant positions in order to improve the society.

In conclusion, education is the best legacy a state can give her indigenes. Education is very important in our society in the sense that we cannot do without it. Everyone in society, whether he is a leader or an elder encourages us to learn. I also tried to show in my essay that education and knowledge are interwoven. Education always remains the top priority of everyone that likes progress.

Muhammad Auwal Ibrahim

Muhammad Auwal Ibrahim is a young poet, playwright and author. He was born in the year 2001. He is a final year student at Gombe High School. He is also a member of Poets In Nigeria, Gombe Connect Center. His works on poetry have been published in Tuck Magazine.