A Nigerian academic based in the United Kingdom, Dr Oyedele Ogundana, has called for a comprehensive review of Nigeria’s educational curriculum, warning that many university programmes no longer reflect the realities of today’s labour market and are leaving graduates ill-prepared for rapidly evolving careers in a technology-driven global economy.
Ogundana, a Senior Lecturer in the Accounting and Finance Division at Nottingham Business School, Nottingham Trent University, made the observation while reflecting on the differences between higher education in Nigeria and the United Kingdom. According to him, although graduates in many countries still face employment challenges, British universities have made greater progress in aligning teaching, learning and assessment with practical workplace expectations.
He argued that one of the biggest weaknesses in Nigeria’s tertiary education system is the continued reliance on outdated curricula that have failed to keep pace with technological innovation, changing industry demands and the emergence of new professions. As a result, many graduates are compelled to “learn, unlearn and relearn” after leaving the university before they can become productive in the workplace.
According to the scholar, modern employers are increasingly seeking graduates who possess practical competencies, digital literacy, analytical thinking, communication abilities and problem-solving skills rather than academic certificates alone. He maintained that university programmes must therefore be redesigned to ensure students acquire relevant knowledge that can be applied immediately after graduation.
Findings indicate that the concerns raised by Ogundana mirror a broader conversation within Nigeria’s education sector regarding the employability of university graduates. While enrolment into higher institutions continues to grow, many employers have repeatedly identified a disconnect between classroom instruction and the practical requirements of contemporary industries, particularly in fields influenced by digital transformation, artificial intelligence and automation.
The academic explained that universities aspiring to compete with leading global institutions must move beyond traditional lecture-based instruction by embracing experiential learning, interdisciplinary research, innovation, entrepreneurship and stronger collaboration with industry. Such partnerships, he noted, would expose students to real-world challenges before graduation and improve their transition into professional careers.
He further emphasised that curriculum reviews should become a continuous exercise rather than an occasional reform. As industries evolve and new technologies reshape the global economy, universities must regularly update course content to ensure graduates remain competitive both within Nigeria and internationally. Waiting decades before revising academic programmes, he suggested, only widens the gap between education and employment.
Ogundana also highlighted the importance of equipping students with transferable skills such as critical thinking, adaptability, teamwork, leadership and effective communication. These competencies, he explained, have become essential across virtually every profession and should be integrated into university education regardless of discipline.
Beyond curriculum reform, he encouraged Nigerian universities to strengthen research, international collaboration and innovation ecosystems capable of producing solutions to local and global challenges. He observed that institutions that consistently invest in research and practical learning are better positioned to attract global partnerships, improve graduate outcomes and enhance their international reputation.
The lecturer also pointed to the need for closer engagement between universities, regulatory agencies and employers when designing academic programmes. Such collaboration, he said, would ensure that graduates are trained in line with current professional standards while reducing the mismatch between educational qualifications and labour market expectations.
His remarks come at a time when Nigerian universities are implementing various reforms aimed at modernising academic programmes, expanding digital learning and improving graduate employability. However, many education professionals continue to argue that sustained curriculum renewal, investment in teaching infrastructure and stronger industry partnerships remain essential if the country’s higher education system is to compete effectively on the global stage.
Ogundana concluded that Nigeria possesses immense academic potential, but unlocking that potential will require universities to produce graduates equipped not only with theoretical knowledge but also with the practical expertise, innovation mindset and lifelong learning culture needed to thrive in an increasingly competitive and knowledge-driven world.
