Owing to the ever-changing needs of society, industry professionals have called on Nigerian universities to undertake periodic review of the science, technology; engineering and mathematics (STEM) curricula.
Educationists are of the views that three to five years review is ideal to prepare a critical mass of youth with the skills needed to promote research and innovation for the country’s industrialisation.
They observe that despite some investments in STEM research and education, Nigeria has a critical shortage of highly trained scientists, technologists, engineers and innovators with enrolments in STEM programmes and falls behind global averages.
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Peter Okebukola, Chairman of Council, Crawford University and Chairman, Board of Trustees, Caleb University says it is only through a well-developed science, technology and innovation capabilities that Nigeria’s industrialisation can be realised.
Okebukola opines that for the country to fully benefit and cope with technological transformation, universities must adopt research-based education to improve the quality and quantity of STEM education, systematically scale up support to STEM disciplines, maximise the use of digital technology, and create innovation hubs.
He insists that managers of universities need a strong resolve to improve the integration of information communication technology in university teaching.
“Nigerian Universities requires blended learning such that will allow traditional face-to-face teaching and also adopted e-learning in teaching,” he said.
Nigeria Universities needs to amplify linkage with industry to strengthen curricula and research programmes, thereby making them more relevant to the needs of society, says Tolu Odugbemi, former vice-chancellor, University of Lagos
Ibilola Amao, principal consultant of Lonadek maintains that universities need to improve the participation of girls in STEM subjects and reverse current trends which see boys dominate in STEM enrolments, as well as improving the quality, access and relevance of teaching.
“We need girls to understand that STEM education is not for men alone. This is why those of us, who are already there and have achieved something, needs to support others by exposing them to the opportunities in various industries where we work including energy, power, infrastructure, oil and gas and manufacturing,” Amao said.
Educationists observe that while Nigeria has made significant achievements in promoting technological innovation and productivity in different sectors, and recorded achievements in assimilating emerging technologies, the country is still lagging far behind when compared with technologically advanced nations.
They maintain that bridging this gap will require concerted efforts to reform Nigeria’s innovation system and STEM education by making it more entrepreneurial and market-oriented.
