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through Artificial Intelligence (AI), automation, and digital transformation, many universities still operate with outdated curricula designed many decades ago and without strong connections to current economic realities.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 Nigeria Prize for Literature has unveiled an 11-title longlist for its 2026 edition, selecting the outstanding poetry collections from a record 223 submissions received for the competition.
This was contained in a press statement signed by General Manager, External Relations & Sustainable Development, Mrs Sophia Horsfall.
The announcement, by the chairman of the Advisory Board for the Prize, Professor Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo, marks a significant milestone in this year’s competition and reflects the exceptional quality, creativity and diversity of contemporary poetry.
The longlisted titles, arranged alphabetically, are:
1. Adult Love by Tanure Ojaide
2. Bakandimiya by Saddiq Dzukogi
3. Black Passport by Paul Akpomuje
4. 2000 Blacks by Ajibola Tolase
5. Ceremony for The Nameless by Theresa Lola
6. Corpus: Animistic Verses by Ayo Oyeku
1. Floral’s Love Colony by Tares Oburumu
2. The Origin of Wounds by Malik Gbolahan
3. The Years of Blood by Adebayo Agarau
4. Unbind Me Now by James Ugwu Eze
5. Why Does God Need a Gun by Ogaga Ifowodo
Professor Adimora-Ezeigbo described the announcement as an important stage in the 2026 edition of arguably Africa’s biggest and most prestigious literary Prize.
She noted that the collections demonstrate the remarkable capacity of poetry to illuminate human experience through thoughtful reflection, cultural memory and artistic expression.
The academic added that the works revisit history while interrogating dominant historical narratives and exposing the forces that shape collective identities and social relations.
She stated that despite their varied emphases, the books share a commitment to exploring the endurance of individuals and communities in the face of violence, oppression, and social fragmentation.
Commenting on style and language, she said the books display an impressive diversity of poetic techniques marked by lyrical intensity, symbolic depth, and artistic innovation.
“Many employ densely poetic, allegorical, and elegiac modes that invite multiple layers of interpretation, while others draw extensively on folklore, oral traditions, and contemporary realities to create a compelling fusion of past and present. Their language is generally fluid, evocative, and aesthetically refined, relying on vivid imagery, emotional resonance, and intellectual sophistication to communicate complex ideas. These works demonstrate how poetic language can illuminate social realities, challenge established perspectives, and give voice to both individual and collective experiences.
“The next stage will demand a closer reading of each work, with attention to language, form, originality and lasting literary value,” she stated.
She also commended the judges for their work and reaffirmed the Advisory Board’s commitment to a credible process, literary excellence and the promotion of a strong reading culture.
The announcement of the 11-title longlist formally opens the next phase of the shortlist of three in August and the possible announcement of the winner in October.
The Nigeria Prize for Literature, sponsored by NLNG, carries a cash award of $100,000 for the author of the winning book. In its 22nd year, the prize rotates annually across four genres – prose fiction, poetry, drama and children’s literature – with the 2026 edition devoted to poetry.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The federal government has slashed the fees for the assessment and ranking of textbooks ahead of the implementation of the National Textbook Ranking Policy scheduled to commence in September 2026.
The reduction, approved through the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC), was aimed at easing the financial burden on publishers and authors while facilitating compliance with the new national textbook quality assurance framework.
The decision comes ahead of the implementation of the National Textbook Ranking Policy introduced by the Minister of Education, Mr Tunji Alausa, to improve the quality and standardisation of instructional materials used in schools across the country.
Announcing the development in a statement on Wednesday, the Executive Secretary of NERDC, Mr Salisu Shehu, said the assessment fee had been reduced from N2,000 to N1,500 per page, while the ranking fee for each textbook title had been cut from N1 million to N750,000.
He said the revised fees take immediate effect and apply to all publishers and authors submitting textbooks for assessment and ranking.
Mr Shehu also disclosed that publishers who had already paid the previous assessment fee of N2,000 per page would receive refunds of the excess payments, adding that details of the refund process would be announced in due course.
He urged all stakeholders in the publishing industry to comply with the new fee regime.
“Under the policy, only textbooks that have been assessed, approved and ranked by NERDC will be approved for use in Nigerian classrooms from September 2026, while unranked textbooks will no longer be permitted,” he said.
Meanwhile, the minister explained that the initiative was designed to tackle the proliferation of textbooks in schools and ensure that teachers and learners have access to high-quality, curriculum-compliant instructional materials.
The minister restated that NERDC will continue to exercise its statutory responsibility of approving textbooks for use in schools, but that approval alone would no longer be sufficient under the new policy.
“Instead, every approved textbook will undergo a structured national evaluation and ranking process by expert committees to determine the most suitable and highest-quality books for each subject and level of education,” he said.
The minister was optimistic that the National Textbook Ranking Policy will strengthen quality assurance in education by providing schools, teachers and parents with reliable guidance on the best instructional materials for teaching and learning.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
A free educational initiative to equip children with practical Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) skills needed to grow, thrive and prosper in a rapidly evolving world has been put together in Lagos.
The programme, Young Innovators Camp, commenced on Monday in the Lekki area of Lagos State. It is organised by MONAT, with Fidelity Bank as the sponsor.
Participating children, who must be between 4 and 10 years, will have a hands-on learning experience focused on creativity, innovation, problem-solving and critical thinking. They will be introduced to age-appropriate STEM concepts, guided build sessions and other engaging activities designed to stimulate curiosity and encourage practical learning.
The camp will also feature small group learning with facilitators, financial literacy sessions, creative activities, and other interactive experiences that support confidence-building among participants.
Every participant will also receive a specially curated gift pack filled with educational resources and STEM learning materials to encourage continued exploration and learning at home, making the camp both a memorable and transformative experience.
The Young Innovators Camp reinforces Fidelity Bank’s ongoing investment in initiatives that prepare children and young people for the future. It builds on the bank’s education-focused interventions, including initiatives such as SWEETA, which supports children, and the lender’s broader CSR agenda, which prioritises youth empowerment, education, skills development and access to opportunities that can improve long-term outcomes for individuals and communities.
“The future will be shaped by those who can solve problems, think creatively, and harness technology to improve lives.
“At Fidelity Bank, we believe these abilities should be nurtured from an early age.
“Through the Young Innovators Camp, we are giving children the opportunity to explore science, technology, engineering and mathematics in a fun, practical and engaging way that inspires curiosity, builds confidence, and encourages innovation.
“We want every child who participates to leave believing that they have the potential not just to succeed in the future, but to help create it,” the Divisional Head of Brand and Communications at Fidelity Bank, Mr Meksley Nwagboh, said.
“As a bank committed to helping people grow, thrive and prosper, we see education, particularly STEM education, as a strategic investment in Nigeria’s future.
“Today’s young innovators will become tomorrow’s engineers, scientists, entrepreneurs, inventors and technology leaders.
“By partnering with Monat, we are investing in a generation equipped with the skills, mindset and confidence to solve real-world challenges, create opportunities, and contribute meaningfully to national development.
“This is more than a summer camp; it is about unlocking potential and inspiring the next generation of innovators,” he added.
