Shukurat Olajire
A Professor of Labour Economics, AbdulLateef Usman, has called on Nigeria’s educational authorities to revamp their curricula to better reflect the country’s current realities.
He said this during the 4th Inaugural Lecture of Fountain University, Osogbo, Nigeria, while emphasizing the need for the National Universities Commission (NUC), the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), and other similar agencies to lead this charge, ensuring that the education system aligns with the nation’s present and future needs.
During his lecture, Prof. Usman pointed out that the current educational structure is not adequately preparing students for the growing digital economy.
He stressed that skill development in areas like Information and Communication Technology (ICT), financial technology (fintech), and e-commerce should be prioritized, as these fields hold significant potential for job creation.
“Policies that promote the digital economy must be put in place to tackle youth unemployment,” he noted.
The professor highlighted that the country’s population is growing faster than the economy, causing serious concerns. “The poor economic growth is a major challenge. It’s tied to weak macroeconomic management, which has led to instability, high unemployment rates, and low incomes for many Nigerians,” Prof. Usman explained.
To tackle these issues, Prof. Usman recommended focusing on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education and technical skills development to ensure graduates are prepared for the modern job market.
He also urged the government to implement labor market reforms to make the workforce more flexible, protect workers’ rights, and improve social security.
Prof. Usman higlighted the need for the government to take social and economic insecurity seriously.
“Above all, the widespread insecurity in the country must be treated as a national concern, with genuine efforts to resolve it,” he added.