BY EDWARD OSEGHE
Nigeria must urgently overhaul its educational curriculum to reflect present-day realities or risk being left behind in the global knowledge economy, Bishop (Prof.) Dapo Folorunsho Asaju, retired academic and Anglican Bishop of Ilesa, warned on Monday.
He gave the charge while delivering a lecture titled “The Crown of Glory: Education as Service to Humanity” at Igbinedion University, Okada, Edo State, during the 91st birthday celebration of the institution’s Founder and Chancellor, Chief Gabriel Osawaru Igbinedion, the Esama of Benin Kingdom.
Asaju stressed that Nigeria’s present academic framework is outdated and unable to drive sustainable national development.
He called for reforms to emphasise innovation, creativity, agriculture, technology, and critical thinking.
“Our curriculum must evolve to reflect current realities. We need a system that produces problem-solvers, not certificate holders. Education should equip young Nigerians with practical skills, ethical grounding, and global competitiveness,” he declared.
He expressed concern that the rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is already challenging academic integrity and authenticity worldwide, warning that Nigeria’s institutions must act fast to adapt.
He cited global examples, noting that countries such as China, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates, and Australia had leveraged education and innovation to transform their societies within a generation.
The bishop criticised the growing influence of secularism in Nigerian schools, which he said was eroding the moral and spiritual values that should anchor learning.
“Secular education has corrupted academic education. There is an underlying spiritual character to every form of education. We must return to producing men and women of integrity, holy writers, ethical thinkers,” he said.
Asaju also urged the government to improve incentives for university lecturers, insisting that poorly motivated academics cannot deliver quality education.
Turning to Chief Igbinedion’s contributions, he described the establishment of Igbinedion University, the first private university in Nigeria as a “crown of glory” in Esama’s life, urging other wealthy Nigerians to invest in education as a legacy of service to humanity.
“Life is not just about amassing wealth, but about how much we impact humanity,” he added.
Representing the Chancellor, the Deputy Chancellor of Igbinedion University and former Edo State Governor, Chief Lucky Nosakhare Igbinedion, hailed the lecture as one of the most impactful in the Esama’s birthday series.
Vice Chancellor, Prof. Lawrence Ikechukwu Ezemonye, described Chief Igbinedion as a towering figure in Nigeria’s educational landscape.
He said Igbinedion University, established in 1999, had become the benchmark for private higher education in Nigeria and remains the Esama’s most enduring legacy.
“When the history of private university education in Nigeria is written, the first chapter will be reserved for our Chancellor,” Ezemonye said.
“At a time when the path was uncharted and the obstacles daunting, Chief Gabriel Osawaru Igbinedion envisioned the possibility of expanding access to quality education and built a citadel that set a gold standard in academic excellence, moral rectitude, and community service.”
The event was part of a weeklong celebration of the Esama’s 91st birthday, which drew academics, political leaders, community figures, and well-wishers from within and outside Edo State.
