Reps back review of national blockchain education curriculum

House of Representatives has expressed support for the ongoing review of the National Blockchain Education Programme curriculum aimed at equipping Nigerians with the knowledge and practical skills required to compete in the emerging digital economy.

The Chairman, House Committee on Delegated Legislation, Hon. Richard Olufemi Bamisile, stated this in Abuja during the flag-off of the curriculum review meeting of the National Blockchain Education Programme, organised by the Blockchain Adoption Initiative in collaboration with the African University of Science and Technology (AUST), Baze University and Nile University of Nigeria.

Hon. Bamisile, who expressed excitement over the initiative, said the review would strengthen Nigeria’s capacity to innovate, compete and take a leading position in the rapidly evolving digital economy.

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According to him, “the future belongs to nations that do not merely consume technology, but possess the knowledge to create it, the wisdom to govern it and the vision to use it for national development.”

He noted that blockchain technology offered opportunities beyond cryptocurrency, with applications in financial services, agriculture, supply-chain management, digital identity and secure record-keeping.

However, the lawmaker stressed that realising these opportunities would require deliberate investment in education, practical skills development, responsible innovation and effective regulation.

“These opportunities can only be realised through education, practical skills, responsible innovation and effective regulation,” he said, urging stakeholders to develop a curriculum that would respond to the country’s technological and economic needs.

Hon. Bamisile explained that his recent assignment as Chairman of the House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee on the Economic, Security and Regulatory Implications of Cryptocurrency Adoption and Point-of-Sale Operations in Nigeria had reinforced the importance of public education and regulatory preparedness.

He disclosed that the promotion of blockchain education was among the recommendations of the ad-hoc committee, adding that the initiative was necessary to improve public understanding of emerging technologies and their implications for the economy.

“As Chairman of the House Committee on Delegated Legislation, I recognise the complementary importance of ensuring that subsidiary legislation is lawful, effective and responsive to technological change. Education helps us understand innovation; sound regulation ensures that innovation serves the public interest,” he said.

The lawmaker urged participants to ensure that the revised curriculum went beyond theoretical instruction by incorporating practical training, cybersecurity, regulatory compliance and other relevant professional competencies.

He added that the programme should equip young Nigerians to become innovators, entrepreneurs and problem-solvers rather than leave them at the margins of the global technological revolution.

“Let us build the knowledge today that will power Nigeria’s innovation tomorrow,” Hon. Bamisile urged the participants, emphasising the need for stakeholders to take an active role in shaping the country’s technological future.

Earlier, the Director of Information and Communication Technology at Baze University, Dr. Alhassan Abdulmutalab, recalled that the institution was among the universities invited by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) in 2023 to contribute to the development of Nigeria’s national blockchain policy.

Abdulmutalab welcomed the collaboration among universities and other stakeholders, describing the curriculum review as an important step towards building a comprehensive educational framework for blockchain technology.

“I remember in 2023, Baze University was invited by NITDA to be part of the universities to develop national blockchain policy. Today, I’m very happy that under your leadership, universities are brought together to develop a robust curriculum,” he said.

He explained that the programme was designed not only for students but also for Nigerians across different sectors who needed to understand blockchain technology and its practical applications.

Similarly, the Faculty Coordinator for Continuing Professional Development Programme at the African University of Science and Technology, Abuja, Dr. Prisca Onuoha-Iroakazi, reaffirmed her institution’s commitment to practical, industry-oriented education.

She disclosed that the university regularly develops brochures outlining certificate and professional development programmes, expressing optimism that its collaboration with the organisers would strengthen the delivery of blockchain education.

Onuoha-Iroakazi, who welcomed the Memorandum of Understanding signed with the organisers, said the institution would work to ensure that the revised curriculum combined academic knowledge with practical experience and industry collaboration.

“We hope this curriculum will be reviewed to bring not only theory but hands-on [training], in a way that everyone who comes to learn will go and build their own industry. That is what we champion,” she said.

In her presentation, Mrs. Janet Oyelade commended Bamisile and the relevant regulatory agencies for their roles in bringing industry operators and regulators together to address challenges confronting the blockchain ecosystem.

She recalled that the industry had experienced a turbulent period characterised by disagreements between operators and regulators, as well as fragmentation among stakeholders, noting that engagements with the House committee helped create an opportunity to chart a common path forward.

“The blockchain industry was in a turbulent period. We were having problems with the regulators, and the operators themselves were not together. As you said, when the committee called for us, we came in and we found that we could chart a way forward,” Oyelade said.

She commended the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for engaging stakeholders, adding that improved education would help operators address gaps in anti-money laundering compliance, data protection and cybersecurity.

Mrs. Oyelade explained that the Blockchain Adoption Initiative emerged from the need to adopt a holistic approach to blockchain development, rather than concentrate exclusively on virtual assets, stressing that a comprehensive curriculum would help address existing knowledge gaps and position Nigeria to benefit from the technology’s wider applications.

The flag-off meeting was attended by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Central Administration, Nile University of Nigeria, Professor Prema Kirubakaran, alongside representatives of regulatory agencies, universities, and other stakeholders in the blockchain ecosystem.