Varsity chancellor calls for continuous review of tertiary education curriculum

Vice-Chancellor of the University on the Niger, Professor Chinedu Nebo, has called for a continuous review of Nigeria’s university curriculum to ensure graduates remain nationally relevant and globally competitive.

He stated that tertiary institutions in the country have been operating with an outdated curriculum, which he blamed for the poor performance and demoralisation of graduates.

In an interview with *The Guardian*, Nebo reiterated the need to declare a national emergency in education, saying it would help realign universities with their original mandate and restore academic excellence.

He also criticised the recent hike in electricity tariffs for higher institutions, stressing that it had not only hindered their operations but also affected their core mandate, particularly research.

“When energy costs are excessively high, universities cannot sustain operations, especially research. The government removed subsidies without implementing measures to mitigate the impact. There should be categories of institutions that do not pay the maximum electricity rates. Instead of burdening universities with high energy costs, internet bandwidth should be provided to all tertiary institutions as a national infrastructure,” he said.

Nebo stated that the University on the Niger, owned by the Diocese on the Niger (Anglican Communion), had made the study of the Chinese language compulsory for students, citing the growing influence of China in Africa’s business sector.

“We have made Chinese language compulsory for every undergraduate because China is rapidly expanding its presence in Africa. It may be difficult to engage in business with Chinese firms without proficiency in the language. Many of our businesspeople have dealings with China. Even in the United States, General Electric has many of its turbines manufactured in China under its supervision.

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“China is poised to become a major business partner for Africa, particularly in development. We want our students to gain expertise in the Chinese language, which is why we are the only university in Nigeria to have made it a compulsory subject.”

He added that the university offers a course called Christian Identity, aimed at reorienting students on the importance of ethics in their lives.

“A university education should not only pass knowledge to students, but the university itself should shape them. We want our students to understand how to relate to others as responsible human beings. We have also introduced Artificial Intelligence as a practical, hands-on course rather than a purely theoretical subject,” he said.

Nebo criticised the federal government’s policy of excluding private universities from certain benefits, such as subventions and bursary awards, arguing that this policy was a key reason for high tuition fees in private institutions and their limited admission capacity.

He called for a system in which the federal government provides support to all universities, regardless of ownership, to foster improved academic performance and national development.