The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has urged Nigerian universities to overhaul their curricula and discontinue courses that do not equip students with problem-solving skills relevant to modern realities.
Speaking during the 37th convocation and 50th anniversary of the University of Calabar on Thursday, Kalu stressed that with the rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other technological advancements, many courses offered in Nigerian universities have become obsolete and fail to address real-world challenges.
He criticized the heavy emphasis on Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) as a measure of academic success, arguing that education should be judged by its practical impact rather than theoretical excellence.
“Universities should stop teaching students courses and curricula that cannot transform them into problem solvers. There is too much focus on CGPA, but true education is measured by how well students can apply knowledge to solve societal problems,” he stated.
Kalu challenged universities to bridge the gap between academia and society by ensuring that research and teaching directly contribute to tackling pressing national issues such as healthcare, food security, water access, and transportation.
“Outdated teaching methods fail to empower students for future challenges. How many university projects today directly address real-life problems? Our research should not remain in theory but should offer tangible solutions,” he added.
The lawmaker emphasized the need to integrate technological skills into university curricula, particularly in fields like cybersecurity, data analysis, robotics, and blockchain.
According to him, law faculties should explore blockchain applications, while engineering students should engage in robotics to align with global technological trends.
He said, “Law faculties must adopt blockchains. Engineering students should embrace robotics when the gown mirrors the town’s needs, and productivity follows when we bridge the gap between academia and society university can drive national progress while contributing to global knowledge.”
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Kalu further called on lecturers to adopt impactful teaching methods that prepare students to shape the country’s policies and drive innovation.
“Our universities must rise to the challenge by moving beyond theory to practical impact. When we reform our curriculum and leverage technology, we can translate knowledge into real solutions and contribute meaningfully to national development,” Kalu concluded.
