The Chancellor of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, Aare Afe Babalola, and the Executive Chairman of United Nigeria Airlines, Obiora Okonkwo, have called for reforms to align Nigeria’s education system with the country’s developmental needs and prepare graduates for life after school.
They made the call on Tuesday in Ado Ekiti during the university’s convocation lecture, titled “Functional Education and the Nigerian Project: Strategic Human Capital Development for National Renewal,” delivered by Okonkwo.
Okonkwo described functional education as a responsibility to ensure that learning keeps pace with society’s changing needs and aspirations.
He said, “If higher education is to become the principal driver of national renewal, what is required is a comprehensive and coordinated reform agenda that deliberately aligns education with the developmental aspirations of the Nigerian state.”
He urged universities to design curricula around practical competencies, problem-solving, critical thinking, collaboration, creativity and lifelong learning to equip graduates for a rapidly changing world.
The airline executive also called for stronger collaboration among universities, industries and government to ensure that academic programmes reflected national priorities and emerging labour market needs.
He advocated the revitalisation of Technical and Vocational Education and Training, as well as efforts to restore the strategic relevance of polytechnic education.
Okonkwo said, “If functional education is to become a defining feature of 21st-century Nigeria, government and regulatory agencies must create the conditions, incentives and standards that enable institutions to move beyond certificate-centred education towards capability-centred education.
“Education should be treated as productive national infrastructure, with investment directed not only towards classrooms and curricula but also towards laboratories, workshops, research, digital infrastructure, technical personnel, innovation and industry partnerships.”
He urged the National Universities Commission to place greater emphasis on graduates’ abilities rather than curriculum content alone.
“The National Universities Commission should progressively shift its emphasis from minimum standards of curriculum content to minimum standards of graduate capability, asking not only what students have studied, but what they can actually design, build, create, research, produce, manage and solve,” he said.
Praising ABUAD for its contribution to higher education and human capital development, Okonkwo said he was pleased to identify with the institution’s record of excellence.
Addressing the graduating students, he urged them to apply their knowledge to solving societal problems rather than focus solely on securing employment.
“Let the true evidence of your education be found in what you do with the knowledge and opportunities you have received. Go into the world not merely as degree holders seeking employment, but as problem-solvers, creators, innovators, professionals, entrepreneurs and value-makers,” he said.
He added, “Do not ask what the world owes you because you have graduated; ask what the world needs from you because you have been educated. Let your education become action, your knowledge become competence, your competence become value, your value become service, and your service become a contribution to the transformation of your society.”
In his remarks, Babalola commended Okonkwo’s recommendations, particularly the call for university curricula to reflect the realities graduates would face after leaving school.
He said the education system should prepare students not only for present circumstances but also for future opportunities and responsibilities.
“Certainly, there is a need for the Federal Government to review the curriculum of universities to align with what we need after school, in real life. That is an important point. I see a lot of loopholes in our present curriculum,” Babalola said.
The university chancellor also raised concerns about the approval and establishment of private universities, arguing that the process required stronger regulation to prevent the expansion of institutions from undermining educational quality.
“Secondly, the way private universities are approved by the NUC gives a lot of concern. Once you become a member of the House, all you need to do is use your connection and get approval to site a university in your hometown. You know the number of private universities we have now. You will be surprised that this has overtaken quality.
“My suggestion today is that something has to be done by law to regulate how private universities are established. We should define what to do,” he said.
Babalola stressed that education remained essential to employment, entrepreneurship and poverty reduction.
“We must understand that education is key. If you are educated, everybody knows there are some opportunities you can get. If you are not, you cannot get a job or create a job through other means. Poverty will continue to get worse,” he added.