The Chairman of the Committee of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities (CVCNU), Prof. Lawrence Ezemonye, has called for a radical transformation of university education in Nigeria to address the growing challenges facing the sector.
Ezemonye made the call while delivering the 2025 Public Lecture of the Social Science Academy of Nigeria (SSAN) on Thursday in Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the lecture is titled “A New Vision for University Education in Nigeria: Rhetoric, Paradox and Metaphor.”
The professor, who also specialises in Ecotoxicology and Environmental Forensics, emphasised the urgent need for universities to adapt to current realities by prioritising relevance, quality, sustainability, integrity, innovation, and inclusivity.
“The world is changing rapidly, and universities must adapt to prepare future-ready graduates.
“We are not just here to diagnose problems. We must envision a radical transformation,” Ezemonye stated
He outlined numerous issues plaguing the university system, including infrastructural deficits, overcrowded lecture halls, outdated laboratories, and unresolved staff issues.
He also noted a significant mismatch between graduates’ skills and industry demands.
To address these challenges, he proposed a forward-looking vision for Nigerian universities, one centered on project-based learning, competency-based education, entrepreneurial development, social responsibility, and the use of technology.
“We must craft a new identity for Nigerian universities, no longer ‘degree mills’ or ‘political football fields,’ but national compounds, innovation hubs, and knowledge greenhouses.
“If we fail to change the metaphor, we will fail to change the model,” he added.
In his welcome remarks, former Vice-Chancellor of Veritas University, Prof. Michael Kwanashie, stressed the importance of rethinking funding mechanisms for Nigerian universities.
He urged policymakers to adapt funding strategies to the socio-economic and political realities of the! country.
Kwanashie noted that while innovative funding ideas were essential, they must be contextualised to fit Nigeria’s unique environment.
“For those managing the university system, they need to look at these suggestions and find ways to activate new funding sources.
“Many of these are tied to the nature of the economy, social structures, and the society’s underlying philosophy,” he said.(NAN)
