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• Dons, education stakeholders seek review of courses in Nigeria’s universities
By Kehinde Aderemi
In Nigeria’s universities, certain courses in the curriculum appear outdated and irrelevant in today’s context. With rapid technological advancements, the relevance of some university courses is being questioned.
While the importance of these courses is often attested to by their ability to prepare students for a secure future, findings suggest that some courses, once considered valuable, may no longer be relevant today. As a result, they may fail to equip Nigerian university students with the skills required for the modern labour market and for a society of the future.
Recently, a first-class Biomedical Engineering student, Oyindamola Hamzat, urged Nigerian university authorities to do away with courses that are no longer relevant to society.
Sharing her experiences in an encounter with the reporter, Hamzat stated that at some point in her university years, she did courses related to civil engineering, but to her dismay, she never saw how such knowledge could be applicable to biomedical engineering.
Hamzat emerged as the best student in her department in the 2023/2024 session. But she was worried that some of the courses taught in some universities in Nigeria seem to be irrelevant in today’s age and time.
She advised that it is essential for universities to start offering courses that are relevant to the field of study as early as possible, allowing students to build their interests in their preferred fields.
“In my second year, I did courses related to civil engineering, and I have not seen anywhere I can apply this knowledge in biomedical engineering,” she said.
“I think the university curriculum has to be worked on. There are some courses that are completely outdated. They are not really necessary, and they don’t align.”
Like Hamzat, there are a few other Nigerians who share the same views. Some dons spoken to by the reporter called for a total review review of the education curriculum in Nigeria’s universities.
A Professor of Environmental Education, Raheem Kolawole, said that though there are some courses that seem to be irrelevant in this age and time, there is a need for an urgent review of the education curriculum in Nigeria’s universities.
“All subjects have relevance, but we need to critically evaluate them. Rather than discarding certain subjects outright, we should assess which ones are useful and which ones require development to suit our needs. This is the approach we should take.
“Our university curriculum needs sustainable development, and this applies to our entire educational system, including the facilities we provide for higher institutions, primary schools, and secondary schools.
“The state of our school infrastructure is of great concern. When I observe the condition of our classrooms and school buildings, I find it ironic that we’re studying architecture in the universities while our own buildings are in disrepair. They are dilapidated and unsuitable for our tropical climate.
“During the dry season, teachers struggle to teach in overheated classrooms, making it difficult for students to concentrate. Many classrooms are overcrowded, with 60 students squeezed into a small space.
“The infrastructure is substandard. In our universities, we often lack basic amenities like electricity, especially during the rainy days. How can students and teachers learn effectively in such conditions? We need to provide better learning environments to support our educational goals.
“There should be a kind of reviewing what we study, even from primary school to the university level,” he said.
Prof Kolawole admitted that some courses are obsolete. He highlighted the courses, adding that the best way is for complete reviewing.
“For example, typesetting in this time and age is obsolete. There have been a lot of developments in that area, which require that you don’t do it the old way anymore.
Courses like physical science are still relevant in today’s world. Physical science will always be important, but not as we have been doing it in the past 40, 50 years. It has to change because physical science is important.”
He emphasised the need for Nigeria to be proactive in developing its curriculum, rather than waiting for Western countries to dictate what is relevant. “We have to be proactive; we are not. For example, philosophy – is it useful to study or not? I would say it is useful, but we have to upgrade it.”
Prof Kolawole also stressed the importance of linking courses to real-world applications and societal needs. “All the courses offered in Nigerian universities have to be linked with something that is relevant to what is required in today’s world.”
He maintained that many subjects thought to be irrelevant are still relevant but need to be taught in a way that is relevant to today’s society. “Courses like Bible Studies and Islamic Studies are all still relevant. But it is how you have them taught in your schools. It’s how you put them in your curriculum.”
Prof Kolawole’s call for a review of the education curriculum in Nigeria’s universities emphasises the need for relevance, contextualization, and proactivity in developing courses that meet the needs of today’s society.
The former don explained further that Nigeria seems not to be ready for the transformation
Also, in his remarks, Professor Kolawole Olamijulo Soyebo, Professor of Resource Management and Extension, Department of Family, Nutrition and Consumer Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, admitted that, indeed, some courses are gradually becoming irrelevant in today’s technology-inclined age, but added that there are ways out of it.
According to the university lecturer: “If you are not computer literate and digitally compliant, either personally or individually, then such a person is becoming irrelevant and not fit in today’s technology-driven society.”
He emphasised the need to move with trends, stating further that curriculums or disciplines in schools have to be reviewed and revised consistently in relation to global trends.
“If university curriculums are reviewed following the change, I don’t think any curriculum can be obsolete.
“We know if we don’t move with change, it means one will be caught in the web and become irrelevant. For example, anyone in marketing who is not compliant with digital transactions would not make progress in today’s world.”
Professor Soyebo suggested that university authorities should take the lead in reviewing and updating the curriculum, with government support. He also advised young students to choose sustainable careers that solve problems and last long.
“This huge lacuna in the education sector can only be fixed with efforts beginning from the university authorities before getting to the government,” he said.
“As far as I know, government will be the last point. Review of school curriculum starts with the university departments and institutions offering these different courses.”
He advocated a shift from manual to digital lecturing, stating also that the university lecturers can apply some form of simple technology to teach, but added also that the fact remains that many Nigerian universities still do many things manually in this time and age.
“Some of us have adopted some of this technology to some level. For instance, I teach my students virtually. That has really solved a lot of problems,” he said.
Professor Soyebo emphasised the importance of lifelong learning, stating, “Learning is a lifelong process. You need to unlearn, re-learn, learn, unlearn, and re-learn. Training is on-going.”
He also highlighted the need for lecturers to be trained in how to use technology to deliver lectures. “With this, I think we can be relevant in society,” he said.
Professor Soyebo, however, advised young students to choose sustainable careers that solve problems and last long. “I did a presentation recently with the topic, ‘Choosing a sustainable career, a pathway to success.’
“Sustainable career means a job that will solve problems and last long. It is not just about relevance to solving societal problems. So, it will be a one-off job,” he explained.
He encouraged students to look beyond popular careers and consider fields like agriculture, pharmacy, medicine, and law, which are still relevant today. “No society can survive without agriculture,” he said. “Anybody that specializes or is trained in agriculture at whatever level has just seen a sustainable career.”
“In this age and time, young students must be conscious of the relevance of whatever career they choose, by making sure that such careers are relevant and sustainable today and in the future,” Professor Soyebo stated.
