Education
AI is Changing the World: Are Nigerian Universities Ready?
By Timi Olubiyi, PhD
The gap between what many universities teach and what the real world currently demands is widening daily, particularly in Nigeria. Truly, the university education system is gradually losing alignment with the realities of today’s expectations. While industries across the world are rapidly evolving through Artificial Intelligence (AI), automation, and digital transformation, many universities still operate with outdated curricula designed many decades ago and without strong connections to current economic realities. Across industries today, employers increasingly seek graduates with digital competence, problem-solving ability, adaptability, creativity, communication skills, and technological literacy. Unfortunately, many higher institutions still emphasise theoretical memorisation rather than practical competence and future readiness. This growing disconnect partly explains why graduate unemployment and unemployability remain serious national concerns despite thousands of graduates entering the labour market every year.
Artificial Intelligence is no longer a futuristic concept; it is already transforming banking, healthcare, media, agriculture, education, law, manufacturing, logistics, finance, and public administration. More so, intelligent systems can now automate repetitive tasks, analyse large volumes of data, generate reports, support decision-making, and improve operational efficiency faster than humans in many instances. In fact, I was recently in a bank to request an ATM card and was attended to by a machine and the card was issued without human contact or need. This reality has profound implications for jobs, skills, productivity, and the future of higher education globally. Recently, the Managing Director of a company in Nigeria reportedly disclosed publicly that over 500 vacancies existed within the organisation, yet the company struggled to find suitably qualified Nigerians for the available roles. That statement may sound alarming, but it reflects a growing structural problem that should concern policymakers, universities, parents, and students alike. The issue is not a lack of intelligence or potential among Nigerian youths. Nigerian youths remain among the most resilient, innovative, and entrepreneurial globally. The real problem is that many educational institutions are still preparing students for yesterday’s economy instead of tomorrow’s economy.
Globally, universities are aggressively redesigning their curricula to align with emerging realities. New programmes in Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, Data Science, Cybersecurity, Automation, Renewable Energy Technology, Machine Learning, Biotechnology, and Digital Systems are rapidly expanding because nations understand that future economic competitiveness will depend heavily on technological capability, innovation, and human capital development. Nigeria cannot afford to lag behind in this global transition. The National Universities Commission (NUC), policymakers, university administrators, and other stakeholders must urgently recognise the implications of AI on higher education and labour markets. Curriculum redesign should no longer be treated as a routine academic exercise but as an urgent national economic priority. One important conversation Nigeria must begin to have honestly is whether some university programmes in their current structures can remain economically competitive in the future. This conversation may be uncomfortable, but avoiding it will not solve the problem. The world is changing rapidly, and universities must evolve accordingly.
Traditional disciplines such as History, Philosophy, Sociology, and related fields remain important for national identity, ethics, critical thinking, and cultural preservation. However, these disciplines may require modernisation and stronger integration with digital and employability skills. For example, History students today should also be exposed to digital archiving, strategic communication, international relations, policy analysis, data interpretation, media intelligence, and AI-assisted research methods. The issue is not necessarily the existence of the discipline itself, but whether graduates possess transferable skills that remain valuable in a modern economy. Importantly, AI literacy should now become compulsory across all university disciplines regardless of specialisation. Whether a student studies medicine, law, accounting, engineering, agriculture, communication, philosophy, or education, a foundational understanding of AI systems, digital tools, cybersecurity awareness, technology ethics, and data analysis is increasingly becoming essential.
The future workplace will reward people who can effectively work with technology, not those who ignore it. AI literacy is gradually becoming as important as computer literacy was years ago. Universities must therefore prepare students to adapt, collaborate with intelligent systems, and solve emerging problems creatively. Another major issue is faculty development. Curriculum reform alone may achieve little if lecturers themselves are not adequately prepared for the realities of modern education. Many academic staff members require continuous learning, digital retraining, and professional development to effectively teach contemporary skills and emerging technologies. The reality is simple: lecturers can only effectively teach what they sufficiently understand. In the AI era, educators must also embrace unlearning, relearning, and continuous improvement. Teaching methods designed decades ago may no longer prepare students adequately for a highly digital and innovation-driven economy. Faculty development programmes should therefore become continuous and mandatory within Nigerian universities.
Beyond curriculum and faculty reform, universities must strengthen industry collaboration and practical learning. Students should graduate with exposure to internships, digital projects, innovation hubs, entrepreneurial development, and real workplace experiences. Entrepreneurship education should move beyond writing theoretical business plans merely to pass examinations. Students should instead be encouraged to solve real societal problems and develop practical solutions. Stronger collaboration between academia, government, and the private sector is essential if Nigerian graduates are to become globally competitive. The long-term danger is that Nigeria may continue producing graduates who are academically qualified but economically unprepared. This weakens productivity, discourages investment, increases unemployment, and limits national competitiveness in a technology-driven global economy. The time to act is now. Artificial Intelligence is evolving faster than many institutions anticipated, and its impact on education and employment will continue to deepen. Universities that fail to modernise risk producing graduates who may struggle to remain relevant in future labour markets. The future belongs to nations that equip their young people with adaptable skills, technological competence, creativity, and innovation capacity. Nigerian universities must therefore evolve quickly enough to meet the demands of the AI era before the gap between education and economic reality becomes even wider. Good luck!
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Dr Timi Olubiyi is an expert in Entrepreneurship and Business Management, holding a PhD in Business Administration from Babcock University in Nigeria. He is a prolific investment coach, author, columnist, and seasoned scholar. Additionally, he is a Chartered Member of the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment (CISI) and a registered capital market operator with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). He can be reached through his Twitter handle @drtimiolubiyi and via email at dr***********@***il.com for any questions, feedback, or comments. The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author, Dr Timi Olubiyi, and do not necessarily reflect the views of others.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The federal government has suspended the proposed review of registration fees for the 2027 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE).
The Federal Ministry of Education made the announcement on Monday in a statement signed by the Director of Press and Public Relations, Mrs Boriowo Folasade.
The ministry announced that the letter conveying the proposed fee adjustment, dated June 18, 2026, has been withdrawn to allow for a comprehensive review and broader consultations with all relevant stakeholders before a final decision is taken.
The Minister of Education, Mr Tunji Alausa, directed that the proposal be placed on hold, with the Ministry acknowledging the concerns and constructive feedback received from the public since the planned increase became known.
The Ministry said the proposed fee review was driven by rising operational costs that have accumulated over several years without a corresponding adjustment to examination registration fees.
It said the current fees have remained largely unchanged for several years despite significant increases in costs covering logistics, security, printing of examination materials, technology deployment, quality assurance and other services required to maintain the integrity of public examinations.
“The proposed review was informed by the prevailing economic realities and the rising cost of conducting credible national examinations,” the statement said.
“The current examination registration fees have remained largely unchanged for several years despite significant increases in operational costs,” the Ministry added.
The ministry said the proposed fee hike will no longer take effect as earlier planned, while acknowledging that the concerns raised by Nigerians warranted a pause in the process.
“The proposed review of examination registration fees will not take effect, as earlier communicated, pending the conclusion of the consultation process,” the statement confirmed, adding that the June 18 letter conveying the proposed adjustment has been formally withdrawn.
“This decision underscores the Ministry’s determination to ensure that policies affecting millions of Nigerian students and their families are carefully considered, socially responsive and reflect the collective interest of the nation,” it said.
The Ministry outlined a fresh stakeholder engagement process that must be concluded before any decision on examination fees is made, signalling that the review has been delayed rather than permanently shelved.
The Ministry said it will engage extensively with examination bodies, state ministries of education, school proprietors and administrators, parents’ associations, organised labour and other education stakeholders as part of the renewed consultation process.
It said the goal of the consultation is to ensure that any future decision is “fair, sustainable, transparent and responsive to prevailing realities while safeguarding access to education,” framing the suspension as a course correction rather than an outright reversal of policy intent.
“The Ministry acknowledges the concerns and constructive feedback received from the public and appreciates the keen interest shown by Nigerians in matters relating to access to quality education,” the statement read.
The Ministry assured Nigerians it would keep the public fully informed throughout the consultation process, saying the welfare of students and equitable access to quality education “remain at the heart of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the education sector.”
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The examination fees of Senior School Certificate Examinations (SSCE) conducted by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) have been increased by the federal government by about 82 per cent to N50,000 from N27,500.
A circular signed by the Director of Senior Secondary Education in the Federal Ministry of Education, Mr Adeniji Ibrahim, disclosed that the new fees would become effective in 2027.
In the notice, it was disclosed that the government approved the upward review of the fees following a request by WAEC.
It was further disclosed that the decision to jack up the fees was reached after a March 31, 2026, meeting between the Minister of Education and examination bodies, where the need to review examination fees was discussed.
“You may recall that at a meeting of examination bodies held with the Minister of Education on March 31, 2026, where the need for upward review of examination fees was discussed, the Minister directed that WAEC and NECO should adopt a uniform fee for the conduct of WAEC and NECO SSCE,” the statement read.
“Consequently, I am directed to convey the Minister of Education’s approval of the sum of N50,000 only, as the new examination fee per candidate, with effect from NECO SSCE (Internal), 2027,” it added.
**Modibbo Adama University Emerges Grand Prize Winner, Secures N50m
A leading integrated independent exploration and production company with full-cycle upstream delivery capability, FIRST Exploration & Petroleum Development Company (FIRST E&P), has reaffirmed its commitment to developing Nigeria’s next generation of engineers.
This commitment was highlighted during the grand finale of the maiden edition of the Nigerian Engineering Olympiad (NEO), held on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, at Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.
The event recognised outstanding student innovators whose engineering solutions addressed real-world challenges, marking the culmination of months of regional qualifiers, prototype development, mentorship and boot camp sessions that equipped students from universities and polytechnics across Nigeria with practical skills in engineering, innovation and entrepreneurship.
The Olympiad attracted 984 participants across 375 teams from more than 80 tertiary institutions representing all six geopolitical zones of the country.
Delivering the sponsor’s address, the General Manager, Engineering and Capital Projects, FIRST E&P, John Alamu, emphasised that the competition reflects the company’s commitment to equipping students with the practical knowledge and innovative mindset required to excel in engineering and strengthen Nigeria’s future workforce.
Alamu, noting that initiatives such as the Engineering Olympiad provide a structured platform for young talent to transform innovative ideas into practical solutions that contribute to the country’s technological and industrial advancement, stated that, “FIRST E&P believes that developing STEM capacity is an investment in this country’s ability to solve its own problems. The Nigerian Engineering Olympiad has taken young engineers and taught them to think beyond the drawing board, and FIRST E&P is proud to have been a funding partner for this initiative. I commend NCDMB for championing the Olympiad and Enactus Nigeria for successfully delivering a platform that is helping shape the next generation of Nigerian engineers and innovators.”
In his address, the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, represented by the Acting Director, Planning, Research and Statistics, Silas Ajimijaye, expressed appreciation to FIRST E&P for their unwavering support in successfully delivering the Olympiad.
Ajimijaye added that the initiative aligns with the Federal Government’s Nigeria First Policy, which aims to build indigenous engineering capacity and equip young Nigerians with the knowledge and skills needed to drive industrial competitiveness, technological advancement, and sustainable national development.
The competition concluded in the awarding of prizes, with Team Mavericks of the Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Adamawa State, winning the grand prize of N50 million and a Centre of Excellence building for its Faculty of Engineering.
The team’s winning innovation, Ubuntu Sapphire, is a community-powered rapid alert system that uses affordable devices to instantly notify neighbouring households and emergency responders during emergencies, offering a practical solution aimed at strengthening community security and emergency response infrastructure.
Speaking after receiving the award, Team Lead, Dr David Patrick, expressed gratitude to the organisers and sponsors for providing a platform that fostered innovation and practical learning.
The University of Ibadan emerged as the first runner-up, receiving N30 million and N75 million worth of engineering equipment for its Faculty of Engineering. The University of Nigeria, Nsukka, secured third place and was awarded N20 million and N50 million worth of engineering equipment. The University of Jos finished fourth, receiving N10 million.
