I taught my Primary 2 students using LED to detect counterfeit money. The students assembled LED light circuits and tested them on real money. These kids are 8 years old, and they arrived at my class when they were 6 and knew almost nothing. Our children in Nigeria are not different, but the kind of foundational education given to them is completely different from This is what Nigeria can take away from this: 1. LANGUAGE: Using Chinese language to explain LED circuits was so easy for them to understand, and took less than 6 mins. They never have to worry about understanding the grammar or remembering new vocabulary if another language was used. Humans have different abilities, and language acquisition is a skill that’s not evenly distributed. While you or your son can learn a new language fast, others might not be strong in language, but really good in science and technology. Nigeria should use native languages to teach primary school children right from the first day of school. With many native languages, autonomous regions with different official languages should be the best direction, with an option for international classes that is more English focused. Build local economies first before looking outward to setting up economies that are national or international. 2. CURRICULUM: If you don’t change with time, time will leave you behind. Nigeria’s future is left behind because of outdated curricula right from primary to tertiary. The world has moved on a long time ago, and we must wake up to reality and realize that the output of our educational system doesn’t help our economic growth. We don’t have major local industries, inventions, breakthroughs because what students learn doesn’t fit the current reality. What is Nigeria’s stage when it comes to industrialization? Is Nigeria a baby, toddler or teenager? Then her education output should be a balanced diet that will aid her growth for the next 5-10 years, and the curriculum is the structure that ensures that. With the way the world is changing so fast, the curriculum should be reviewed and adjusted annually. This is what we do. My students first came to our school so tiny, many of them don’t know how to even write their names. We taught them most of what they know today, and because we have a curriculum that is modern, targets what the students really need to know, and its always modified to reflect their realities, they have acquired so much knowledge about how the world around them works like electricity, engines, space, aerodynamics, mechanics and environmental protection in a short time Miracles and prayers alone will not come from heaven to correct our future. It’s now or we will always be the laughing stock of the world. 3. GROUP WORK: North, south, east, west, these kids are from all parts of the country. We train them to work together, and show them how their country is becoming better everyday by group work; how many sectors, companies, organizations, groups, tribes work together as a team to achieve goals that benefits everyone at a personal level. In Chinese, we always tell them to “He Zuo 合作” which means cooperate. They are learning that at a young age, so when they get old, they know that the value of cooperation far exceeds the benefits of sentiments and bigotry to their economic well being and national future. 4. TEACHERS: Teachers should earn more than law makers and governors. This is how it is in any sane and developed society. When you pay teachers well, the best brains and minds in your society will occupy schools and universities, and will inspire the next generation of inventors, businessmen and women, artists and professionals. Don’t be proud to say that you are paying your qualified primary school teachers minimum wage, it’s pathetic. I love miracles as much as I love working hard. If I have a choice, I’ll rather work hard while others wait for miracles. Nigerian’s need to adopt a mentality of working hard and being consistent.