Education and Employment as Catalyst for Nigeria's Future Leadership

Abstract

Over the years, leadership problem in Nigeria has assumed a gruesome dimension. Corruption has been on the increase whilst insensitivity of government to the plight of the common man has almost become habitual. Different leaders have emerged who tried their hands on the problem of the country without any success. Is it the system of government that is faulty or the people carrying out the governance that have problem? These challenges recently prompted the Federal Government to set up a National Conference with the mandate to find solution to some of these issues. In all these, lack of education for the populace together with unemployment are the twin problems currently bedeviling this country as a nation and they both portend danger for the future of our country. Despite constitutional provisions that the government shall provide free, compulsory, universal primary education, as well as free university education, and ensure that all citizens have the opportunity for securing means of livelihood, as well as adequate opportunity to secure suitable employment, both education and employment are still unattainable mirage. This paper, therefore, investigates the government modality for providing education and employment for the people especially given the provisions made for them under Chapter 2 of the 1999 Constitution.Methodology is derived from interview conducted for lecturers, lawyers, traditional/religious leaders and extant literature. Efforts to arrest the inept and corrupt leadership in the country would require a robust approach to governance concerning education and employment.