Stakeholders in Nigeria’s education sector have emphasized the urgent need to integrate modern industrial demands into undergraduate training to enhance graduates’ employability and practical competence.
They made this call at the launch of a technology hub and a book titled ‘Tower of Hope, Halls of Despair: A Journey through Nigeria’s University System’, written by Dr. Adam Muritala, an Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife.
Speaking at the event held on Wednesday at the African Centre of Excellence, OAU, Dr. Muritala described the book as a profound reflection on Nigeria’s higher education system-its strengths, struggles, and opportunities for reform.
Muritala, who is also the Head of the Department of Mechanical Engineering at OAU and founder of the African Pro-Humanity Technology Hub (APHTH), said the book serves as both a mirror and a roadmap for transforming university education in Nigeria.
According to him, the work examines the challenges confronting Nigerian universities, traces their origins, and proposes practical solutions for long-term improvement.
‘For many years, universities have been plagued by strikes, and we have observed that graduates-especially engineering graduates-are expected to be job creators. Unfortunately, most are now job seekers,’ Muritala said.
‘The book explores what went wrong. The vision of the founders of our universities was to produce graduates who would drive national development. But what we are witnessing today is far from that original dream-what we see instead is despair.’
He added that the book traces the evolution of Nigeria’s university system from the pre-colonial to the post-colonial era, examining the impact of military and civilian administrations, and offering policy recommendations for reform.
Muritala also unveiled the African Pro-Humanity Technology Hub (APHTH), which he said would serve as a platform for African-invented technologies and AI-driven education aimed at bridging the gap between research, innovation, and real-world applications.
The don, who hails from Okeho in the Oke-Ogun area of Oyo State, explained that the hub is dedicated to advancing indigenous innovation and empowering African talents through technology.
‘In Nigerian academia, we have not been able to align university training with industrial needs. This disconnect has widened the gap between classroom knowledge and industry practice,’ he observed.
The twin event attracted eminent scholars, policymakers, vice chancellors, traditional rulers, innovators, and education reform advocates.
During the occasion, the Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) was honoured with the Friend of Humanity Award for promoting Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in Nigeria. Similar awards were also presented to Barrister Ahmed Raji, Chief Saheed Oladele, and Chief Zakariyah for their humanitarian contributions to education and community development.