Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has called for a shift towards experiential learning to accelerate Nigeria’s development. Speaking at the Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT), Mbah argued that the current education model, which relies heavily on rote memorization, is inadequate for driving economic growth and transformation.

He emphasized that experiential learning—an approach where knowledge is gained through direct experience and reflection—was essential for bridging the gap between education, industrialization, and economic growth. The governor also questioned why Nigerian universities rarely feature in global rankings and fail to produce inventive graduates.

Mbah pointed to countries like the U.S., China, Germany, and the Netherlands, which invest heavily in experiential education and have become global economic leaders. As part of his initiative, Mbah is establishing 260 Smart Green Schools across Enugu State, designed to integrate experiential learning from basic education through to tertiary levels.

The Vice Chancellor of ESUT, Prof. Alloysius-Michael Okolie, along with other dignitaries, commended Governor Mbah for his commitment to educational transformation and his leadership in the sector.