NIM counsels FG to focus on employment generation
The Nigerian Institute of Management, NIM, has called on the Federal Government and other policy makers to focus on ways to increase the capacity of the Nigerian economy to generate employment and at the same time reposition the nation’s educational system in line with the demands of growth and development.
The call was made by the President and Chairman of Council of the institute, Mr. Nelson Uwaga in his presentation at the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies, NIPSS, Senior Executive Course.
Speaking on the topic ‘Fundamental Principles of Management on Repositioning Nigeria’s Educational System for Global Competitiveness’, Uwaga said: “The world around us is changing, changing fast. The fundamental shifts in business and the workplace, and skill requirements for personal excellence, all demand that we change the way the students of tomorrow are trained and educated.”
According to him, the country must ensure that its educational system raise a generation of men and women that think critically, solve complex multi-disciplinary and open-ended problems, create and innovate, and communicate and collaborate.
“The challenge before Nigeria’s policy makers is how to increase the employment generation capacity of the economy, while repositioning the educational system to produce graduates worthy enough to chart the nation’s course into the future,” he added.
He stated further that a search has begun for a new mindset in both education and management and that the challenge is how to develop forward-looking options for all students, with a view to raising individuals who can work collaboratively with others, think critically and creatively, and solve complex problems.
He argued that it is not enough to spot the talent, or induct him into the organization, but that there may be a need to fast-track deserving talent, offer challenging career paths, provide cross-functional exposure, and arrange secondments that may draw out the best in them.
He said: “In other words, the key emphasis is on empowerment, rather than micro-managing. Empowerment is the devolution of authority to individuals to decide and act, and effect, thereby a measure of self-management.
“Empowerment is a tool for talent development — improving productivity and enhancing customer service. It frees people to innovate in the marketplace and to find more efficient ways of performing their work.
“It also permits many decisions about customer service to be made in immediate proximity to the point of service delivery. Thus, the customer requests are typically filled more efficiently, with greater satisfaction to the customer and reward to the entire organization.”
According to him, “Students — their strengths and talents, their characteristics, and their needs for instructional services that are stimulating and satisfying — must be the focal point of the next generation of educational programming.
“The foundation of a programme for talent development, must rest on a tripod: a contemporary, inclusive programming model that ensures appropriate, challenging and developmental learning experiences for high-ability students, and for differentiating instruction, recognising strengths, talents and interests, and nurturing potential among all students;
“Attention to differentiation of instruction that is responsive to personal creativity characteristics, learning style, and problem-solving style;
“Deliberate instruction in production thinking and change management. This will enhance, enrich and strengthen the fabric of 21st century practice in talent development.”
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