The Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate in Akwa Ibom, Emem Coffie, has urged Nigerian youths not to abandon education in pursuit of quick success.

Mr Coffie gave the advice in a statement on Wednesday. He stressed that education remained essential for career development and national growth. He said the growing perception that education was a waste of time could undermine youth development, noting that academic knowledge provided a foundation for specialisation and professional competence.

The governorship candidate said he had sponsored hundreds of students in Akwa Ibom, Enugu and Abuja as part of his commitment to education and youth development. According to him, young people need the right foundation and support to discover their potential and become self-reliant.

Mr Coffie said education had played a significant role in the development of advanced countries and should not be dismissed because some people achieved success without university education.

The engineer, who has about 35 years of professional experience, said academic training was particularly important in technical fields where practical knowledge must be supported by sound understanding of scientific principles.

He said youths seeking to specialise in emerging fields such as robotics must first acquire knowledge of basic sciences and relevant engineering disciplines.

Mr Coffie called for a system that would enable young people to complete university education early, identify their talents and specialise in their chosen careers without unnecessary delays.

He said early identification of talents would help reduce the time young people spent trying to establish themselves professionally before gaining recognition and opportunities.

The PDP candidate, however, said university education should not be the only pathway to success, urging the government to support vocational training, entrepreneurship and other trades.

“Everybody doesn’t need to go to university. That’s why we get everybody wrong, but whatever level, whatever trade you should apply, the government should support you, train you and make you relevant,” he said.

On translating education and skills into employment, Mr Coffie called for greater investment in industrialisation in Akwa Ibom.

(NAN)