ACCELERATING CREATIVITY AND SKILL ACQUISITION IN UNIVERSITY EDUCATION FOR POVERTY ERADICATION IN NIGERIA

Abstract

Poverty remains a persistent issue in Nigeria significantly impacting educational and economic prospects. It is the leading cause of instability in the nation and as such, it is vital to acknowledge the existing means of mitigating poverty’s hold on graduates in Nigeria. This paper explores methods to accelerate creativity and skill acquisition within the education sector for poverty eradication. The study investigates the interrelation between university education, creativity and poverty eradication, focusing on Nigeria’s unique socio-economic environment. An introduction is provided giving the background of this paper topic. The literature review displays current educational paradigms to identify barriers that impede creativity and skill development. It argues that the conventional learning approaches in Nigeria hinder the development of creativity and problem-solving skills crucial for economic empowerment. Problems facing the acceleration of creativity and skill acquisition in Nigerian universities include lack of funding for skill acquisition, lack of materials for creativity and skill acquisition, lack of entrepreneurship education in the curriculum, poor stakeholders’ involvement amongst others. Proposed suggestions to the problems were provided in the paper. The conclusion highlights the significance of a comprehensive educational approach in addressing poverty, advocating for policy reforms that emphasize experiential learning and interdisciplinary methods. By nurturing creativity and cultivating diverse skill sets, educational institutions can empower individuals to break the poverty cycle and make meaningful contributions to national progress. This paper contributes to the discussion on education’s transformative potential in poverty eradication, providing practical recommendations for promoting creativity and skill development in Nigeria’s educational sphere.