The former Vice-Chancellor of
the National Open University of
Nigeria, Prof. Olugbemiro
Jegede, has identified obsolete
curriculum as one of the
biggest challenges facing the nation’s educational sector.
The current curriculum, he said,
had not kept pace with global
development, research and
societal needs.
This comes as the Bishop of Lagos West, Anglican
Communion, Rev. James
Odedeji, frowned on the
acquisition of degrees and
certificates at all costs.
Both spoke in Lagos at the Second Annual Blossom Career
and Entrepreneurship Summit
organised by the Best of the
World Enterprises Limited,
publishers of Blossom
Magazine. According to the former NOUN
VC, the nation’s schools are still
producing pupils and students
that are not relevant in the
labour market.
Jegede said, “Our review of the various curricula being used at
our institutions of higher
learning has not kept pace
with global development,
research outcomes and current
societal needs. It does appear as if we still use analogue
thinking to solve current issues
which have gone digital. The
tertiary institutions are still
producing graduates for the
labour market without constant reviews of what the
market requires. Industry
therefore thinks that it has
nothing to gain from the
tertiary institutions.
“The curriculum review must aim for fit-for-purpose
personnel to avoid wastage in
resources and industry
retraining graduates they hire
from the tertiary institutions.
There needs to be a symbiotic relationship between the
academia and industry so that
the knowledge directs
teaching, and the learning and
research being done at the
institutions will match what is required by the action-oriented
industry driven by target and
return on investment.”
Odedeji, who spoke through
the Dean of Archbishop Vining
Memorial Church Cathedral, Ven. Abel Ajibodu, faulted the
craze for certificates and
degrees at all costs.
Criticising the idea, Odedeji
said the church was against the
“unwholesome crave” for certificate acquisition without
commensurate acquisition of
knowledge.
The cleric added, “The situation
where students and parents in
a bid to acquire degrees at all costs, go to any length to ‘buy’
or otherwise procure
certificates is not a welcome
development. We, therefore,
call on the authorities to
concentrate curriculum efforts on skills acquisition as a way of
creating jobs and encouraging
youths to explore their
potential in all spheres, be it
academic or technical.”
Contributing, the PricewaterhouseCoopers
Country Senior Partner, Mr. Uyi
Akpata, identified deficient
curricula and poor teaching as
other factors responsible for
youth unemployment in the country.
Akpata, represented by
another PwC Partner, Mrs.
Wunmi Adetokunbo-Ajayi, also
urged universities not only to
transform themselves but also to prepare their students for
real world experiences that are
relevant.
Lagos State Governor, Mr.
Akinwunmi Ambode, in a
message by his Special Adviser on Education, Mr. Obafela Bank-
Olemoh, hailed the summit
initiative, saying it was in tune
with the state’s vision of
engaging students to focus on
acquiring quality education that would enable them to fit
into the job market after
graduation.
He stated that a well-articulate
d curriculum would ensure a
critical role in ensuring the success of its students in the
21st century.
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