Nigerian Tribune News:
http://www.tribune.com.ng/23112009/news/news4.html

FG to make Ph.D minimum qualification for academic staff
Uchechukwu Olisah, Benin City - 23.11.2009

THE Federal Government has said plans are underway to make doctorate degree the minimum qualification for any academic staff in tertiary institutions in the country.

The Minister of Education, Dr. Sam Egwu, made this known at the 17th convocation ceremony of the Auchi Polytechnic, Auchi, Edo State, on Saturday, adding that technical education would be required to provide technical manpower to drive the process.

He said part of efforts to achieve the goal was an agreement the Federal Government, through the Education Trust Fund (ETF), entered with the International Science Fund for the provision of laboratories and technical equipment in tertiary institutions in the country.

Egwu, who was represented by a permanent secretary in the Federal Ministry of Education, Professor Oladapo Afolabi, said the education sector was undergoing repositioning to enable it to meet its roles in the country, adding that one of the steps taken to realise the repositioning was the adoption of a road map for the education sector.

“We are embarking on a critical staff upgrade to ensure that academic staff in our tertiary institutions have a minimum of doctorate degree,” the minister said.

Besides, Dr. Egwu spoke of the need for all tutors in tertiary institutions to be computer literate, adding that “as it stands today, no staff of a tertiary institution will be relevant in future if such is not computer literate.

“The Federal Ministry of Education is, in fact, considering putting a deadline by which all staff of tertiary institutions must show ability to use the computer.”

He lamented that substantial amount of money voted for research annually by the ministry was not being accessed for undisclosed reasons and directed that such annual grants be brought to the attention of relevant staff.

Dr. Egwu promised that the government would implement all agreements reached with the unions.

My people what do you think about this? Does a PhD degree for academic staffs provide the needed equipment in tertiary institutions? Why does our political leaders in Nigeria lack any understanding of simple solutions? What use is a PhD degree holder without computer literacy of the modern day?