Nigeria full of ‘certificated illiterates’ – Utomi

The Founder, Centre for Values in Leadership, Prof. Pat Utomi, has described most educated Nigerians as certificated illiterates

Utomi, who decried the standard of education in the country, said Nigeria needs skilled and creative citizens and not just holders of certificates.

He said this on Thursday while addressing an educational conference organised by FlipLearnCon in Lagos.


The conference was aimed at improving learning in schools and teaching through technological devices, learning resources and training programmes.

Utomi said, “What we need are skills and one of those that have the skills don’t necessarily need certificate, even most foreign universities offer skilled courses without certificates.”

Utomi also said parents and teachers had a great role to play in solving the problems of education in the country.

He said, “The role of parents is very important because they help to imbibe culture and norms that would enhance the development of right character in their children.”

Utomi urged the teachers to adapt to changes in the modern world and be ready to use technology to affect the lives of the students.

“What the educators need to know is that the change lives with us. As an educator, we need to adapt with the changing world. The kind of training we need to give them is to make them believe that nothing is impossible and also how to accept that technology is going to help us solve problems and create opportunity for the future we approach,” he said.

Meanwhile, the CEO of Leading Learning in Lagos, Mrs. Folasade Adefisayo, advised the teachers to prepare their students for a better future.

She said, ‘‘Teachers must put the learner at the centre, we must have vision for our school and that includes providing opportunities and funding for equipment and training software.”