In no particular order, crude oil, palm produce, rubber, lumber rings, cassava, Plantain, Yams, Glass-sand, gypsium, iron-ore, kaolin, lignite, marble, and clay are some of the human and mineral resources that Isoko, one of the tribes in Delta State, Nigeria is blessed with. Records have it that Isoko oilfields remain one of the largest onshore oil producers in Nigeria. But regrettably, like many other tribes in the most populous black nation, Isoko has remained underdeveloped despite these ‘goldmine’ resources buried within the rubies of the land.
Recall that in 1991, the former Isoko Local Government Area was subdivided to form the Isoko South and Isoko North Local Government Area. However, from the deserts of the North to the bustling markets of the South, the reality is still the same – underdevelopment.
Year-in-year-out, there have been calls by concerned stakeholders and activists for leaders, especially political leaders who occupy key government positions to attract development to the land but very little has been accomplished, leaving many people in the land to continue to wallow in poverty.
Since at least 33 years ago that the land was subdivided into two, Isoko land, blessed with natural heritage, cannot boast of stable electricity, good infrastructure, industrialization, good jobs, leaving the youths to resort to riding of ‘motorcycles (okada), tricycle (keke napeps) etc. and forming political campaign groups to champion thuggery for those in government for survival.
How Education Can Drive Socio-Economic Development In Isoko
All over the world, education has been the major drive of Socio-Economic Development and unlocking its powers can transform Isoko land and make it an enviable tribe in the comity of tribes. For instance, about ten years ago, not too many people knew about Dubai but its leader, Mohammed bin Rashid AI Maktoum, leveraging on education, implemented various strategies to transform Dubai from a small trading port to a modern, prosperous, and cosmopolitan city. Through visionary planning, investment in infrastructure, diversification of economy, business-friendly environment, investment in human capital, tourism and hospitality, real estate development, innovation, Dubai has become of the most beautiful and ‘go-to’ places in the world. Today, two out of every three Nigerians want to visit Dubai for several reasons.
Without mincing words, education propels innovation and entrepreneurship. If the right knowledge is impacted, you can be guaranteed of a creative, innovative, and entrepreneurship population, leading to new businesses and job creation.
Multiple researches have linked education to higher Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth rates. This is usually because a more educated workforce naturally attracts investments and drive economic change.
Records have it that education prepares workers for in-demand industries and jobs, addressing labour market needs. For instance, the world has evolved into a global village and tech skills are the most demanded skills across the world presently. Through proper practical education, the work force in Isoko land can be coached on these skills to be able to compete in the present-day market place.
Remarkably, education attracts foreign investment. This is because companies and even federal and state governments seek skilled workers and knowledge-based economies. For instance, the internet is inundated with advertisements of Germany, Canada seeking skilled works from across the world. Skilled workers bred by education can attract foreign investments to Isoko.
Another practical relevance of education is that it brings about social and political development. The developed countries are testament that education promotes social cohesion and political stability by engineering tolerance, critical thinking and civic engagement. The stark reality is that an educated populace will always be interested in democratic processes that produce leaders and also advocate for their right. If properly harnessed, education can equip people in Isoko to properly engage in community development and governance which in turn can bring about a more cohesive environment.
Monumentally, education can bring about reduction of poverty and inequality in Isoko. Deliberate and practical-oriented educational programmes can help bridge the gap. For instance, sometime last year, Ossai Ovie Success who is currently a senior special adviser to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori held a programme tagged ‘Even a professor needs a skill’ at the Delta State University, Abraka to sensitize students on the imperativeness of having skills. Such initiatives should be regular part of the educational students to help equip students in Isoko to become critical thinkers and innovators.
The end product is usually that those who have the right skills in Isoko will harness such skills for personal and societal development, leading to breaking free from the poverty circle.
In addition, experts have opined that enhanced educational opportunities can lead to a better health awareness and practices in Isoko. This is so because educated individuals are more likely to make informed health choices, seek medical care, and adopt healthier lifestyles.
Setbacks to education in Isoko:Â Â
Despite the magnitude of positive impact that education can have in Isoko land, it’s facing several daunting hurdles.
Among others, the challenges include:
Poor remuneration: Just recently, a friend who is a teacher in one of the government secondary schools in Ughelli, shared his earnings for a month with me and I was taken aback. According to the payment slip, which is now in the public domain, the basic salary is N28,133.02 while the total net pay is N56,530.69. Paying a teacher such an amount in this difficult time will not encourage them to deliver at the maximum level.
More so, many schools in Isoko lack adequate classrooms, libraries, and laboratories. There is acute shortage of qualified teachers in Isoko, and many teachers don’t have the right resources to deliver at the highest level.
In addition, access to education is uneven, as children from the interior and less privileged homes face crucial barriers including roads to access their schools. Another troubling challenge is that the curriculums are outdated and do not reflect the current needs of the labour market.
Strategies for Improvement
As clearly stated above, education is a major key to socio-economic development in every tribe, Isoko included, if properly harnessed. Among others, the following are some of the methods to improve our educational system to meet the need of current demands:
Overhauling the curriculum: The need for our curriculum to be revised to reflect the reality of the modern day labour market cannot be overemphasized. I have always posited that subjects such as Taxes, Coding, Cooking, Insurance, Personal Finance, Car Maintenance, Stress Management, Social Etiquette, Basic Home Repair, Survival Skills, Self Defense, Public Speaking, and Entrepreneurship should be mandatory in schools. Also, like many developed countries do, partnering with local businesses can provide students with real world experiences and job placement opportunities.
Embracing technological innovation: By integrating technology into our educational system, we can enhance learning outcomes and bridge the gaps in access. Through digital libraries, e-learning platforms, we can be guaranteed that both students and teachers will have access to resourceful materials to aide learning.
Investments in infrastructure: There is a need for collaboration between the government and private sector to invest in education in Isoko. The government should also be deliberate in partnering with International organizations to invest in educational infrastructure in Isoko. The government needs to prioritize education by building and renovating schools, providing essential facilities and enforcing access to technology.
Improved welfare and teacher training: Unlike what is currently obtainable, incentives such as competitive salaries, housing, and career advancement opportunities can attract and retain the best brains who will build our future leaders with all their heart. Establishing teacher training programmes and incessant professional development opportunities is germane.
Foster initiatives to increase access to quality education: Initiatives such as school feeding programmes, scholarships (as was recently done by the member representing Isoko Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Jonathan Okodhiko who gave scholarships to ten students from Isoko who had the highest JAMB scores), and transportation services will help promote access to education.
Conclusively, I maintain that to fully unlock and harness the power of education in Isoko, there is a need for a strong collaboration between the government, private sector, community and international partners. I strongly believe that through unwavering commitment and innovative initiatives, education can truly become the catalyst for social economic development in Isoko.
Stanley Ugagbe can be reached at ugagbestanley@gmail.com
