President Tinubu urges Nigerian universities to prioritize skills over certificates

Speaking at the 37th Annual Conference and General Assembly of the Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities in Ilorin, Kwara State, President Tinubu, represented by the Minister of State for Education, Suwaibat Ahmad, emphasized that universities are crucial for knowledge creation, innovation, critical thinking, entrepreneurship, cultural development, and national transformation. He stated that the quality of graduates should be measured by their ability to apply knowledge, develop solutions, and contribute to society, possessing qualities such as digital competence, entrepreneurship, adaptability, ethical conduct, and innovative thinking. The President challenged university administrators to reassess their educational offerings against the demands of emerging technologies and changing labor markets, highlighting the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence, automation, biotechnology, data science, renewable energy, and advanced manufacturing.

He noted that his administration is pursuing reforms to improve the quality, relevance, accessibility, affordability, and accountability of tertiary education, with the Federal Ministry of Education implementing the Nigerian Education Sector Renewal Initiative. This initiative focuses on institutional governance, quality assurance, research