3RD OJUKWU LECTURE: Embrace "Elitism of Ability" for National Transformation - Chidoka urges govt

Embrace "Elitism of Ability" for National Transformation - Chidoka urges government
Delivering the keynote as Guest Lecturer at the Third Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu Lecture, Osita Chidoka urged stakeholders to position COOU as a hub for innovative solutions to pressing challenges such as erosion, insecurity, and sustainable development in Igboland and Nigeria at large.
“Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University should not just bear the name of a great leader but embody his legacy by becoming a centre of excellence and innovation,” Chidoka stated.
Chidoka further called on the government to adopt what he termed the "Elitism of Ability," drawing examples from the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs). He noted that Indians are leading the world's technology companies like Microsoft, Alphabet (Google’s parent company), Adobe, and IBM, and attributed this success to the foundation laid by IITs. "The IITs are globally renowned for their meritocratic selection processes that cultivate world-class engineers and innovators. Nigeria must embrace this model to nurture talent, drive development, and secure a prosperous future,” he said.
Chidoka lamented the failure of Nigeria's higher education to achieve the rigour or global integration level of the IITs. "Although we have numerous universities and an abundance of bright, motivated students, our institutions lack the resources, global partnerships, and strategic focus to become feeder grounds for global companies or prestigious institutions, limiting the broader impact of education on societal transformation," he said.