NIGERIAN NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT: A SYNERGY BETWEEN PHILOSOPHY OF EDUCATION AND NATIONAL ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT AND DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY (NEEDS)

Abstract

The development of a country depends on the vision the country has and the nature of machinery it puts in place for its realization. The present paper is anchored on the Nigerian national development with emphasis on the country’s philosophy of education and a major development plan of the government which was adopted in 2004: National Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy – NEEDS. The NEEDS blueprint was established under President Olusegun Obasanjo’s government and it has unfortunately been abandoned by Obasanjo’s successors. The paper avers that irrespective of the fact that it is roughly 20 years ago that NEEDS was adopted as a development policy, the present Nigeria still has a lot to borrow from that socio-economic blueprint. The work condemns lack of consistency in government policies as the rationale for the abandonment of NEEDS and this is unfortunate since government generally ought to be a continuum. The paper however draws a link between NEEDS and the country’s philosophy of education. The work subsequently proffers that there is the need to reconcile the country’s philosophy of education with the ideals and values which NEEDS stand for. This could be achieved through the kind of studies and trainings offered by academic institutions, coupled with sincerity of purpose and commitment of both government and the relevant stakeholders. With the implementation of NEEDS the country would be embarking on practical economic empowerment renewal.