It was thought-provoking and mind-blowing when China’s Minister of Education, Huai Jinpeng, announced that his country’s higher education system had produced over 55 million graduates during the 14 Five-Year Plan period.
He made this statement while highlighting the sector’s role in supporting economic and social development during a news conference.
It is also encouraging to note that, during the 14 Five-Year period, vocational education accounted for over 70 per cent of the skilled workers newly added to the country’s modern industries.
From his statement, that China’s higher education institutions have won more than 75 per cent of the country’s national awards in natural science and technological invention over the past five years is also enviable.
Drawing an inference from Jinpeng’s disclosure, saying Chinese universities have achieved original breakthroughs in fields such as life sciences, quantum technology, artificial intelligence, materials science, and space science, he was invariably alluding to the basis for establishing a university which should be to provide knowledge, conduct research, break new ground, and drive innovation.
Because university education should be universal and all-encompassing, among other things, those Chinese universities have lived up to their expectations, as Jinpeng expressed, having also made progress in philosophy, social sciences, culture, and the arts.
This feat implies that Chinese higher education systems place premium importance on all courses and disciplines, unlike Nigeria, where students, parents, and even lecturers deride and cast aspersions on arts and humanities courses, discriminating against them and writing them off as useless and irrelevant.
According to the British Academy, Arts, Humanities, and Social Science (AHSS) graduates are just as employable as STEM graduates, citing that 88% of AHSS graduates and 89% of STEM graduates were employed in 2017.
The same applies in Europe, where a 2023 study published in Arts and Humanities in Higher Education found that European Arts and Humanities graduates contribute significantly to legal, social, and cultural occupations.
In comparative analysis, Nigeria has produced approximately 2.5 to 3 million university graduates, based on data from the National Universities Commission (NUC) and the National Bureau of Statistics.
Its economy is smaller and not as buoyant as China’s, but can the university authorities, government at all levels, and all stakeholders in the educational system beat their chest and say 70% of the products of its universities have been added as skilled workers in our industries, agencies, companies, ministries, and parastatals within a period of five years?
Can we confidently state that 75 per cent of our national awards in natural science and technological innovation over the past five years have been won by our graduates?
Nigeria’s university system has significantly deviated from the path of excellence it once trod; it is high time the authorities resuscitated it.
We recognise that the country’s university landscape is not without its bright spots, as the University of Ibadan is renowned for its research output, particularly in medicine, public health, and the humanities.
Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) is reputed for its strong engineering and technological programmes, as well as excels in law and arts.
The University of Lagos is the hub of innovation and entrepreneurship; likewise, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) leads in agricultural research and veterinary medicine.
The University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) has recorded a landmark feat in solar energy research and sustainable technologies. At the same time, Lagos State University (LASU) has produced influential research in law, governance, and urban development.
Many Nigerian universities have actually collaborated with institutions in the UK, the US, and Europe. Covenant University and UI have appeared in Times Higher Education rankings, reflecting their growing global footprint.
However, it’s shocking to hear that education is a scam these days, which is why many young people are hesitant to attend university, or perhaps they participate in a certificate program but pursue something entirely different.
They no longer view university education as honourable and enviable, as they know that finding employment after graduation is like searching for a needle in a haystack.
It’s disheartening to see graduates walking around unable to find jobs, as many lack job-ready skills, particularly in digital competencies and soft skills such as communication and teamwork.
Nigerian university graduates have faced a low employability rate, with only 17.4% securing employment within their first year after graduation.
A 2023 survey by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) found that 53% of employers were dissatisfied with the technical abilities of graduates, while the youth unemployment rate stood at 23.1% as of Q2 2023.
However, it is remarkable that youths who don’t excel academically are often skilled in cybercrime and internet fraud.
It is shocking how many universities have become havens for internet fraud. Undergraduates usually lack the time to focus on their academic responsibilities; instead, they prefer to live an affluent lifestyle and drive exotic cars.
Those who graduate were somewhat muddled, which is why many of them are unemployable.
The curricula under which they studied are outdated, emphasising theory over practical and market-relevant skills.
Many universities do not enter into partnerships with employers to coordinate training with the labour market.
Therefore, the government, academic community, and all stakeholders in education should collaborate to brainstorm and develop a comprehensive plan to revamp the nation’s higher education sector.
Although the National University Commission (NUC) has revitalised the curriculum at one time or another, efforts should be geared towards integrating courses on data analysis, coding, cybersecurity, and Artificial Intelligence across all disciplines.
The curriculum must consist of core modules, including tech communication, teamwork, leadership, and emotional intelligence.
It should also offer hands-on training in business development, financial literacy, and innovation.
The curriculum must replace rote memorisation with real-world problem-solving and bring innovation to students’ industrial training by refocusing on the Student Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES).
It will be necessary to collaborate with professionals from all fields, integrating them into the university system for mentorship, as they share their experiences and best practices from their workplaces.
The Nigerian University system will need to globalise its curriculum, link it with the needs in the labour market, and strengthen vocational and technical integration.
If Nigeria fails to learn from China’s blueprint, it risks turning its universities into relics of lost potential—rather than engines of national transformation.
