As part of efforts to move the nation forward, stakeholders have restated call for the restructuring of the sector to focus on industry needs.
The professionals made the recommendation at the end of the 13th annual research conference and fair of the University of Lagos (UNILAG).
They lamented that low budget in education have slowed down the progress of the country.
The programme, with the theme: "Resource utilisation and sustainable development," had over 544 participants from various universities and polytechnics across the country.
The institutions include: University of Nigeria, Nsuka; Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife; University of Benin, Benin City; Uthman Dan Fodio University, Sokoto; Federal Polytechnic, Ede; Federal University of Technology, Akure; Bell University of Science and Technology, Ota; Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, and Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, just to mention a few, in attendance.
In the communiqué read by the UNILAG's Director of Academic Planning, Prof. Wale Okunuga, the team noted that over-dependence on oil wealth, official extravagance of resources, low budget for health care and education, high rate of youth unemployment, low value for native languages, poor electricity supply and high illiteracy are some of the challenges slowing down Nigeria's progress.
However, they expressed optimism that there was hope for the country if all identified variables could be addressed holistically and constructively.
They noted that the bulk of the work lies with the policymakers in private and public segments of the economy.
The experts advised that Nigeria should wean itself of the system of oil dependence economy, invest and restructure education system to focus on industries' need, reform defective institutions, improve on health and education budgetary allocations, develop the use of indigenous languages, value societal ethics and morals.
They also maintained that since leadership is strategic, it is important that the country focus on building the right people that would drive and sustain development.
