Enugu State Governor, Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, has called on governments at all levels to treat education as a national emergency, warning that Nigeria risks losing the economic benefits of its youthful population without urgent investment in knowledge, skills and innovation.
Mbah made the call while outlining his administration’s education transformation agenda, which includes the construction of 260 Smart Green Schools across the state’s wards, increased education funding and the adoption of experiential learning to prepare children for a technology-driven world.
The governor described education as a critical investment in Nigeria’s economic future, arguing that the country’s large youth population could become either a major driver of national development or a source of serious social and economic challenges.
According to him, the difference will depend largely on the quality of education and opportunities available to young Nigerians.
He expressed concern over Nigeria’s out-of-school children and reports of poor learning outcomes among pupils, noting that the country faces not only a challenge of school access but also a crisis of learning.
Mbah said the situation required governments to rethink conventional educational approaches and equip children with the knowledge and practical skills needed to compete in an increasingly technology-driven global economy.
Explaining his administration’s approach, Mbah said the government had chosen to move beyond conventional school renovations and adopt a broader transformation strategy.
He disclosed that the state was developing 260 Smart Green Schools, with one planned for every ward, to expand access to modern learning facilities across urban and rural communities.
The governor said the initiative was designed to replace excessive dependence on rote learning and memorisation with experiential learning, critical thinking, collaboration, digital competence and the practical application of knowledge.
He explained that the goal was to prepare pupils not merely to reproduce information but to understand problems, develop solutions and contribute meaningfully to society.
Mbah also revealed that approximately one-third of the state’s budget had been committed to education for three successive budget cycles.
He described the investment as a deliberate effort to tackle poverty at its roots by improving access to knowledge and the capabilities required for employment, entrepreneurship and wealth creation.
According to him, education remains central to the administration’s broader development agenda because a population without relevant knowledge and skills will struggle to sustain economic growth.
The governor stressed that education reform must be supported by improvements in other critical sectors, including healthcare, transportation, water supply, security and infrastructure.
He disclosed that more than 1,500 kilometres of roads had been constructed or reconstructed across the state.
Mbah also said the administration was developing 260 Type-2 Primary Healthcare Centres across the same 260 wards targeted by the Smart Green Schools initiative.
He explained that these investments were intended to create an environment in which children could learn, families could thrive and businesses could operate more effectively.
The governor maintained that development projects must complement one another to deliver sustainable benefits to residents.
Providing details of the state’s revenue growth, Mbah said Enugu generated approximately ₦27 billion in internally generated revenue in 2022, before his administration assumed office.
He disclosed that the state’s internally generated revenue exceeded ₦400 billion in 2025.
According to the figures presented by the governor, tax revenue accounted for ₦51.5 billion, representing 12.6 per cent of the total, while non-tax revenue contributed ₦355.2 billion, or 87.4 per cent.
Mbah attributed the growth in non-tax revenue largely to investments, the revival of previously underutilised state assets and improved revenue generation from existing resources.
He also acknowledged the Federal Government’s macroeconomic adjustments and reforms, which he said had contributed to improved fiscal capacity and public financing at the subnational level.
The governor argued that sustainable development required more than ambitious policies, stressing that governments must establish the financial capacity to fund their programmes.
He described his administration’s approach as a fundamental shift in the state’s development model rather than a collection of isolated projects.
Despite the construction of modern school facilities, Mbah acknowledged that infrastructure alone would not guarantee improved learning outcomes.
He identified teacher development, continuous professional training and changes in classroom practices as major challenges facing the reform programme.
According to him, the government is working to equip teachers with the skills required to deliver a more interactive and practical approach to education.
He highlighted the role of the Centre for Experiential Learning and Innovation in supporting the transition towards a modern learning system.
Mbah warned that without changes in teaching methods and classroom culture, new school buildings could reproduce the limitations of the old educational system.
He explained that the success of the reforms would ultimately depend on what pupils learn, the skills they acquire and their ability to apply knowledge in real-life situations.
To illustrate the potential impact of the reforms, the governor recounted the experience of a young pupil at a Smart Green School in Owo, who, according to him, had developed digital skills within approximately two years.
Mbah said the pupil had learned to use technology, build websites and work with digital platforms, including exploring how artificial intelligence could improve productivity.
The governor explained that the pupil was subsequently invited to help train students from other schools, demonstrating his growing confidence and ability to share knowledge.
He described the experience as evidence of what could happen when children are given access to modern educational tools and opportunities, regardless of where they live.
According to Mbah, the pupil’s progress demonstrated that talent and intelligence exist across communities, but access to educational opportunities can determine how far children are able to develop their potential.
He said the government intended to build an education system that enables children from rural communities to compete confidently with their counterparts in urban centres.
Addressing concerns about the cost of the state’s education investment, the governor questioned whether Nigeria could afford to neglect the sector.
He argued that infrastructure projects, industrial development and other public investments would be difficult to sustain without a skilled and knowledgeable population.
Mbah noted that building roads and factories would deliver limited long-term benefits if future generations lacked the technical competence required to maintain infrastructure, operate industries and develop new technologies.
He maintained that education should be regarded as preventive investment in the country’s future stability and prosperity rather than discretionary government expenditure.
The governor also highlighted the long-term nature of educational development, noting that many children entering school today might not reach their full productive potential until years after current political officeholders have left government.
He described the initiative as a commitment to future generations, stressing that the responsibility of leadership extends beyond the duration of an elected term.
Mbah called for stronger collaboration among federal and state governments, development agencies, communities and private-sector organisations to improve educational outcomes across Nigeria.
He urged policymakers to demonstrate their commitment through education funding, teacher training, infrastructure development, higher learning standards and strategic partnerships.
The governor said Nigeria must move towards becoming a knowledge-driven economy capable of producing, designing and creating solutions rather than relying primarily on consuming products and technologies developed elsewhere.
He argued that every Nigerian child, regardless of geographical location or background, should have access to an education that prepares them for the realities of the modern world.
Returning to the theme of his address, The Audacity of Enugu’s Education Transformation, Mbah said the scale of Nigeria’s educational challenges demanded bold and deliberate action.
He maintained that the decision to commit substantial public resources to education and introduce new approaches to learning was driven by the need to prepare young people for the future.
“Our demographic dividend could be extraordinary. But that future will not simply arrive. We have to build it,” the governor said.
He concluded that Nigeria’s future prosperity would depend significantly on the knowledge, skills and capabilities of its people, warning that the country must act decisively if it hopes to turn its youthful population into a lasting economic advantage.
Written by Enitan Mudashiru
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