Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) President, Afam Osigwe (SAN), has issued a wake-up call to Nigerian universities and educational institutions, urging them to innovate by embracing information and communication technology (ICT) or risk becoming obsolete.
Osigwe made this call while delivering the Convocation Lecture at the 53rd Convocation ceremony of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) on Thursday.
He lamented that Nigeria’s educational system has been slow to adopt innovative changes in ICT, particularly in teaching, learning, and research. This, he noted, is reflected in the relatively low ranking of Nigerian students on global performance indices.
Citing a UNESCO report from 2022, Osigwe stated that only 18% of Nigerian university graduates meet international employability standards, while over 50% of Nigerian employers express dissatisfaction with graduates’ preparedness for the workplace.
Osigwe emphasised that universities must recognize the significant changes brought about by technology, globalization, and mobility to effectively serve society. He called for a reform of the nation’s educational system, acknowledging the challenges that exist within it.
The NBA President’s message is clear: Nigerian universities must adapt to the changing times by harnessing technological innovation in teaching and learning. This is essential for producing graduates who can compete globally and meet the needs of the 21st-century workforce.
“I will be the first to admit that transforming education is a complex task, replete with challenges that demand immediate attention. Our education system grapples with chronic underfunding, resulting in a dire shortage of essential resources,” Osigwe who spoke on the topic “Harnessing Technological Innovation in teaching and learning,” said.
“It struggles to attract and retain qualified teachers due to low salaries, poor infrastructure, insufficient teaching tools, poor working conditions, and inadequate training opportunities. I have, however, chosen to focus on the transformative effect of deploying technological innovations in teaching and learning.”
Speaking on how Nigerian universities can adapt their teaching and learning frameworks to embrace technological innovations, Osigwe said this can be done encompassing and integrating information and communications technology (ICT), utilizing virtual learning environments, designing dynamic curricula, and exploring emerging fields in educational sciences.
“I ask us to reflect: Since independence, have our teaching methods—reliant on lecture-based delivery without visual aids—and our students’ learning approaches, which have largely centered around passing exams, truly evolved?
“Globally, universities are rooted in the liberal arts tradition, which seeks to liberate the mind from immediate constraints, broaden perspectives, and enable conceptual and analytical thinking. While this approach has its merits, it often neglects practical applications and fails to integrate technological advancements into teaching and learning.
“In Nigeria, this mindset has led to an overemphasis or reliance on theoretical knowledge, to the detriment of developing adaptable skills suited to the realities of today’s world.
“The Nigerian Education Roadmap(2023) lays out ambitious reform plans, focusing on advancing digital infrastructure, improving teachers’ training, and rethinking curriculum delivery.
“One notable development is the National Universities Commission’s (NUC) transition from Benchmark Minimum Academic Standards (BMAS) to Core Curriculum and Minimum Academic Standards (CCMAS). This shift aims to bridge the gap between theory and practice by embedding practical skill acquisition within university curricula.
“Despite these efforts, translating these reforms into measurable outcomes remains a challenge. The integration of technology in both professional (e.g., law, medicine, engineering) and non-professional disciplines has been slow and inconsistent, leaving Nigerian graduates ill-prepared to compete globally.
“Technology in Nigerian universities often remains an afterthought. Libraries are largely analogue and ill-equipped, search mechanisms are manual, and classrooms rely heavily on traditional in-person teaching with minimal use of online platforms. However, few public universities maintain course websites or provide digital resources for students,” he stated.
The Acting Vice Chancellor, Prof. Polycarp Chigbu, Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Sen. (General Rtd) Ike Nwachikwu and Chairman of the occasion, former Gov of Zamfara State, Alh. Aliyu Shinkafi, who is also the Pro.Chancellor and of the Governing Council Moddibo University, Yola, Adamawa State all expressed the optimism that the lecture would provide a roadmap for Nigerian universities who are desirous innovating in areas of ICT.
