A fresh approach to Nigeria’s economic revival is gaining attention in Rivers State, as the Vice Chancellor of Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Okechukwu Onuchuku, calls for a grassroots-driven model that places education at the centre of development across the country’s 774 Local Government Areas (LGAs).
Speaking at the inauguration of the Obio/Akpor Business and Economic Forum in Port Harcourt, Onuchuku emphasized that meaningful national growth must begin at the local level, with strong integration between education, industry, and governance.
According to him, “The local government should not just be administrative units; they must become centres of productivity, knowledge, and innovation.”
He proposed that each LGA should function as a hub where funding, manpower, and productive assets are deliberately coordinated, particularly to strengthen educational systems and prepare students for a technology-driven future.
A major highlight of his address was the introduction of the “Triple Helix model,” which brings together universities, industries, and local governments in a strategic partnership. Under this system, universities and research centres would drive innovation, industries would provide investment and practical application, while LGAs would offer policy support and funding frameworks.
Onuchuku stressed that this model could significantly improve education outcomes, especially in addressing the growing challenge of digital literacy among students. “Many students are not failing because they lack knowledge,” he noted. “They are failing because they lack computer skills required for modern examinations.”
He therefore urged LGAs to invest in building computer-based training centres to help students adapt to Computer-Based Tests (CBT), now widely used in national examinations.
The event also featured remarks from Gift Worlu, Chairman of Obio Akpor Local Government Area, who described the forum as a strategic platform for aligning education, business, and governance.
“OBEF is designed to create a structured engagement between government and stakeholders,” Worlu said. “We want to promote a business-friendly environment while strengthening institutional systems, including digital platforms that will support both education and enterprise.”
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He added that the forum would encourage shared responsibility for development, calling on businesses and institutions to contribute to educational advancement through job creation, training, and corporate social responsibility.
Education stakeholders at the event observed that Obio/Akpor, often regarded as one of the largest and most economically active LGAs in Nigeria, has the potential to become a model for integrating education into local economic planning.
With its mix of urban growth, industrial presence, and academic institutions, the area is seen as a testing ground for policies that could reshape how education contributes to economic development in Rivers State and the wider Niger Delta.
The forum builds on the momentum of the LGA’s first economic summit held in December 2025, signaling a renewed commitment to using education, innovation, and collaboration as tools for sustainable growth.
Analysts say if successfully implemented, the LGA-focused model could redefine how education systems are funded, managed, and aligned with real-world economic needs—starting from Rivers State and potentially expanding nationwide.
Destiny Tamunoala Emmanuel
