President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has urged Nigerian universities to move beyond producing degree holders and become centres of innovation, entrepreneurship, research and economic transformation.
Tinubu made the call in Ilorin, Kwara State, while declaring open the 37th Annual Conference and General Assembly of the Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities. Represented by the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaibat Saidu Ahmad, he said universities must produce graduates with practical skills capable of solving real-world problems.
The President challenged vice-chancellors to align academic programmes with emerging technologies and labour-market demands, particularly in areas such as artificial intelligence, data science, renewable energy, biotechnology and advanced manufacturing. He disclosed that government was reviewing curricula to increase practical training, citing agriculture as an area where the training model is being shifted towards 80 per cent practical and 20 per cent theory.
Tinubu also called for stronger partnerships between universities, industries and government agencies to ensure that research translates into products, technologies, policies and practical solutions. He urged universities to expand internships, entrepreneurship programmes and work-based learning while strengthening accountability and effective management.
He said Nigerian graduates should leave universities prepared to become “value creators, innovators, entrepreneurs, professionals, researchers and responsible citizens,” rather than depending solely on paid employment. Tinubu also emphasised student welfare, quality infrastructure and access to higher education, charging university leaders to use the conference to develop practical strategies for a more competitive and responsive tertiary education system.
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