EKPOMA – A former Vice-Chancellor of the Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma-Edo State, Dr. Awele Maduemezia has lamented lack of development of Nigerian universities.
According to him, Nigerian universities were growing numerically but failing to evolve in complexity from elementary beginnings to more elaborate forms.
Maduemezia, NUC Distinguished professor of Physics made the observation while delivering the 19th Convocation Lecture of AAU, titled “ Growth and Development of University Education in Nigeria “.
He lamented for instance that the curricula brought to Nigeria by the colonial masters were yet to under-go any modification, pointing out that the only major changes in them occurred in 1961when the University of Nigeria, Nsukka was founded.
The changes, he said, brought concept like the course system of instruction and its accompany administration hardware into the curricula.
He added that even the minimum standard set by the National Universities Commission (NUC) for each university curriculum was devoid of a requirement that each university must impact positively on its host environment, if not on the whole country.
While praising the Industrial Training Scheme, he called for the inclusion of course requiring instructional impact from the private and public sector in the curricula of universities and policy technics.
In concluding, he said “the summary of what I am saying is that the philosophy that shaped the structures of the curricula of the University College, Ibadan and the University of Nigeria, Nsukka has remained unchanged over the years and has been transmitted to the newer universities through virtual inbreeding.
“The time has come for each university to re-examine its mission and its vision, and adapt its curriculum to meet not only the dictates of the NUC, but the needs of the end-users of university education”
