Education: A Critical Tool for the Achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in Delta State, Nigeria.
¹AGETUE, N. Franklin,
²NNAMDI, E. Anthony
¹,² BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION DEPARTMENT, DELTA STATE POLYTECHNIC, OGWASHI-UKU, DELTA STATE, NIGERIA.
ABSTRACT
The very definition of developing countries, which many African countries fall in are enervating prevalence of poverty, unemployment, illiteracy and inequality. This has been linked to what development writers termed “historical accident” (slave trade, colonialism, neocolonialism and brass exploitation of human and natural resources) meted on the economies of these countries by western imperialists. Various attempts have been made by governments of these developing nations to ameliorate the grotesque incidence of poverty and misery without any appreciable impact. On realization of this debilitating scenario and dangers of growing widespread and deep-seated poverty threatening the survival and security of mankind, especially in developing countries, United Nations (UN) in the year 2000 formulated and adopted the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) with the prime aim of eradicating extreme poverty and hunger, among other laudable goals by 2015. This paper centers on the place of education in attainment of the MDGs. The study used survey design and the population was purposively determined to be six (6) key government ministries/agencies of Delta State that are prima facie saddled with the realization of the MDGs. Using stratified and simple random sampling techniques, 600 sample sizes were drawn for the study and a 30-item questionnaire was used for data collection. It was found that the attainment of the MDGs, which are eight in number, is a function of education as knowledge and skills are necessary for positive impact. It was therefore concluded that the realization of the MDGs is precipitously hinged on education. It was recommended that education be given its pride of place through expansion of the MDGs Goal No. 2 on education, ensuring standards, teachers/lecturers/instructors training/development, government commitment, among others, for the programme to have positive impact on developing countries.