An educationist, Dr. Larry Jones-Esan has advocated for the introduction of vocational qualification into Nigeria’s educational system as the only way out of the conundrum being presently experienced.
Dr. Jones-Esan who is the Executive Chairman of a private educational institution located in the heart of United Kingdom, London Academy Business School (LABS), made the call during a media parley organized in Lagos by the institution on Thursday, 27 April, 2023.
The LABS Executive Chairman said London Business Academy School in partnership with the University of Sunderland in the United Kingdom is coming into Nigeria with the aim of educating the mind of the people, “this is why we are here, we are here in a big way to change the narratives of education, that is what London Academy Business School and the University of Sunderland is bringing to the people of Nigeria and Africa at large.
“Literally everyone in Ekiti state have a PhD or they are Professors and they have so much resources in that part of Nigeria, but unfortunately I have not seen that education transform into what it should be.
“So we at London Academy Business School have developed the university of entrepreneurship where enterprise becomes the main aim and the main goal of our institution, so we are working in partnership with the University of Sunderland which will eventually transform into University of Entrepreneurship. We want to move from theory into practice that is the reason why our strapline is bridging the gap between theory and practice”.
On collaboration with Lagos State Education Board, Dr. Jones-Esan said, “We did not cut corner, we went straight to the Lagos State Ministry of Education to register our presence and get the permission to operate in the country, so we’ve got full permission to operate as a private institution in Lagos State.
“We also wrote an Expression of Interest letter to the National Universities Commission, (NUC) in Abuja, for them to know that we are working with the University of Sunderland so that when our students graduates they can do their mandatory National Youth Service Corps, NYSC alongside their colleagues in other institutions”.
In his remark, a Consultant with the London Academy Business School, Mr. Chukwuemeka Onwuakagba, disclosed that majority of the schools in Nigeria make use of curriculum which was put together in the 1970s and 1980s which have now become outdated.
In his words, “that is why they say we have mind but we don’t train minds, if you come to Nigeria you see Chinese, I have lots of Indonesian friends that are in the pharmaceutical sector of Nigeria, you will ask yourself, why are they leaving Indonesia and coming to Nigeria to work? It is because we have something we don’t know we have. Now you see a Nigerian going to the United Kingdom to pay close to 17000 pounds for a course per semester and comes back to Nigeria to work, how much do such an individual think to earn?
Onwuakagba said on the contrary the London Academy Business School applies the use of Artificial Intelligence, AI, in their modus operation.
LABS Business Development Manager, Mr. Edward Astaire revealed that JAMB is not part of the qualification to gain entry into the institution.
According to him, “we have our own A-Levels which is at level 3 courses that allows our students to be prepared for English, Mathematics and other subjects they will need to go into year one to year three of the programme so we need people who have results in WAEC, GCE, NECO with the dedication to want to learn and change themselves”.
The LABS mission is to provide high-quality education and training to students from diverse backgrounds and nationalities. Its approach to teaching combines academic theory with practical skills and industry knowledge, aiming to prepare students for the challenges of the modern business world.
LABS has a strong network of industry partners and affiliations, allowing students to benefit from real-world experiences and connections with leading businesses and organizations. The school also promotes entrepreneurship and innovation, encouraging students to develop their own ideas and businesses.
Overall, LABS is recognized as a reputable and innovative institution in the field of business education, with a commitment to delivering excellence and preparing graduates for successful careers in the global marketplace.
