The Federal Government on Thursday urged Nigerians to look beyond the horizon of bagging varsity degrees and start investing in skills acquisition and technological advancement.

The appeal was made by the Director General of the National Productivity Centre, Baffa Dan Agundi, at the National Unity Robot Project held at the National Stadium in Abuja.

To further buttress his argument, Agundi alleged that many skilled artisans without degrees, such as vulcanisers, generate more revenue than the average graduate in the civil service.

This was even as the former majority leader of the Kano State House of Assembly warned parents against rushing underage children through schools just for them to gain early admission.

He said, ?I believe Nigeria needs something like this (robotic programme). I don?t know why parents are always rushing their kids to universities to bag degrees that wouldn?t yield anything when their productivity can be enhanced and harnessed in creative schools. I believe the schools represented here today are willing to teach our young ones what we call ?Catch them young? and how to be productive.

?The more we think in this direction, the better for us in this country. When you look at mechanics, vulcanisers and other small SMEs. You hardly see them with degrees. But today, they are the ones who can feed while our graduates are going right, left and centre looking for jobs. When you calculate what a vulcaniser on the street gets, you will see that he is better than a graduate who is employed by any agency or state government at any level.

?So we should change our mindset and become productive. That was why I took the initiative to start with the NYSC (Corp members) sent to my centre (NPC). Those who are there have to be placed on something for them to be independent so that by the time they finish youth service at my centre, all of them can go home with something. It is not for them to just come for service and leave,? he said.

The National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools President, Dr Samira Jibir, also shares his sentiment on the need to empower young minds with skill acquisition.

Jibir expressed excitement that Nigeria is beginning to live up to expectations as Africa?s giant through rapid advancements in technology, with robotics emerging as a key player.

?The development of robotics in Nigeria reflects the global trend of integrating automation, artificial intelligence and mechanical systems into various sectors such as manufacturing, agriculture, and education.

?Today, we stand on the cusp of something extraordinary. We are embarking on a journey that has the power to redefine not only how we think but also how we unite as a nation. I am thrilled that our students are on this historical trajectory,? she said.

The NAPPS President also appealed to parents to consider the age and maturity of children before jumping on the bandwagon of hurried school syndrome that could jeopardise their future.

She also appealed to relevant government agencies to step up their regulatory function in line with the Federal Government?s directive.

Earlier in his welcome address, the U-Robot project coordinator, Harvest Ibrahim, told the audience that his team was inspired by the need to create a rallying point driven by a new generation of Nigerian children.

Ibrahim further explained that a total of 10,000 participants within the age range of two to 15 were carefully chosen from various nursery, primary and secondary schools to be part of the assembly team.

He added that they would be supervised by AI experts on identity definition, material sourcing, assembling and robot narrative to start building within the first 60 days of engagement.

He said, ?The idea of a robot globally symbolises man?s attempt to artificially re-invent or recreate human tendencies to improve a better life. Our quest to birth a new generation of productivity-cultured Nigerians compelled us to initiate a new, exciting capital project that will involve millions of children across Nigeria.

?We might not be putting men on the moon for now. But thousands of Nigerian children are set to positively disrupt the global conversation about who we are through the National Unity Robot Project.? (The PUNCH)

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