The future is about what you can do

…Not just what you know, says Ichoku, VC, Veritas varsity

From Fred Ezeh, Abuja

Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Hyacinth Ichoku, Veritas University, Abuja, has argued that universities must move beyond awarding certificates to producing graduates with practical skills, innovative thinking and entrepreneurial capacity. He spoke with Daily Sun recently.

Excerpts:

Employers complain that graduates leave university with certificates but lack practical skills. How do you want to address this?

That is one of the biggest challenges facing higher education today. Employers want graduates who can solve problems, innovate and create value, not just people who have academic qualifications. That is why we conceived the Innovation Hub and Skills Boot Centre. It was designed to become the melting point for all forms of skills in the university. Whether a student is interested in technology, fashion design, creative arts, engineering, music or any other field, there will be a place to develop those talents. Our philosophy is very clear: no student will pass through Veritas University without acquiring a skill. We don’t just want to produce graduates with certificates; we want to produce graduates who can compete anywhere in the world.

Don’t you think Nigerian universities have paid too little attention to skills development over the years?

Universities have traditionally focused on academic knowledge, and that remains important. But today’s world requires something more. The future belongs to people who can apply knowledge to solve problems. If a student graduates today without any practical competence beyond the certificate, that student may face serious challenges in the labour market. Universities therefore have a responsibility to combine academic excellence with practical skills. That is where higher education is headed globally.

How does your model differ from the entrepreneurship courses that are already compulsory in universities?

Entrepreneurship courses are useful, but what we are building goes beyond classroom teaching. Students take entrepreneurship as part of their academic programme, but the Innovation Hub is where ideas are transformed into reality. It is where students can experiment, innovate, develop products and work on solutions to real-life problems.

We are also establishing an Ideation Hub equipped with high-capacity computers and workstations where students can refine ideas before developing them further. This is about creating an innovation ecosystem rather than simply teaching entrepreneurship as a subject.

Technology is changing the workplace rapidly. How should universities respond?

Universities cannot afford to remain the same while the world is changing. That is why we are investing in technology and building partnerships with global companies such as Cisco and Microsoft. Our objective is that students should graduate not only with degrees but also with internationally recognised professional certifications. Those additional certifications significantly improve their employability and prepare them for opportunities in the digital economy.

Beyond infrastructure, how do you expose students to industry and innovation?

Every year we organise what we call our Skills Boot Week. During that period we invite experts, innovators and accomplished professionals from Nigeria, other African countries and even the United Kingdom to mentor our students. The objective is to expose students to global best practices, inspire them and help them understand the opportunities that exist beyond the classroom. Learning should not stop with lectures. Students need interaction with practitioners who have succeeded in different industries.

You spoke about students following their passion. Should universities deliberately create room for that?

Certainly! Education today is no longer limited to what you study in the classroom. Many students are admitted to study courses chosen for them by their parents, but while in the university they discover talents in sports, technology, music or innovation. Universities should help students develop those talents alongside their academic studies.

One of our first-class Accounting graduates is a good example. Although he graduated with distinction, his real passion was basketball. Today he plays for Nigeria’s national basketball team and also mentors younger students. That demonstrates why universities should nurture passion as well as academic excellence.

There is growing concern about graduate unemployment. What’s your reaction to this trend?

PGraduates who possess practical skills are better positioned to create jobs for themselves instead of waiting endlessly for white-collar employment. We want our students to leave the university with the confidence to innovate, establish businesses and contribute meaningfully to society. That is why the Innovation Hub will provide facilities where students can continue developing ideas after lectures instead of simply returning to their hostels. Innovation requires practice, collaboration and persistence.

What’s the cost of the project and why make such an investment at a time when universities face financial constraints?

We see it as an investment in the future rather than an expense. The structure alone will cost about N1.3 billion, and construction has already commenced. We expect it to be completed by the end of January. When completed, it will bring together different innovation groups currently operating in different parts of the university into one integrated centre, working closely with our engineering and innovation facilities. That integration will significantly strengthen our capacity to train students for the future economy.

Young people today appear attracted to shortcuts to wealth rather than learning a skill. What is your message to them?

That is one of the greatest challenges facing society today. Some people say education is a scam. Others say skills are unnecessary because they believe they can make quick money through Internet fraud or other illegal activities. I disagree completely. The future is about what you can do, not just what you know.

Illegal money is not real success. It is fraud, and it cannot build a sustainable future. My advice to every Nigerian student is simple: acquire a skill. Beyond your certificate, develop practical competence. That is what will keep you relevant in tomorrow’s economy.

What lessons can other universities and policymakers draw from this initiative?

The biggest lesson is that higher education must evolve. Universities should not see their responsibility as ending with the award of degrees. They must also produce innovators, entrepreneurs, creators and problem-solvers. If we want Nigeria to compete globally, our universities must deliberately integrate skills development into the educational experience. That is the direction the world is moving, and we cannot afford to be left behind.