VCs Gather in Ilorin to Shape Nigeria's Higher Education

On [date not specified], 348 vice chancellors from Nigerian universities convened in Ilorin, Kwara State, for the Committee of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities (CVCNU) 37th Annual General Assembly. The conference, themed “Building Resilient Universities for Nigeria,” aimed to create a strategic framework for Nigerian universities to compete globally.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, represented by Minister of State for Education, Prof Suwaibat Saidu Ahmad, urged universities to evolve beyond merely awarding degrees and to become centers of innovation, research, and national development. He stressed the importance of producing graduates who are innovative, ethical, digitally competent, and capable of addressing real-world challenges.

Tinubu's administration is pursuing reforms to enhance the quality, relevance, and accessibility of tertiary education, including the Nigerian Education Sector Renewal Initiative. He called for a shift in curricular focus, particularly in agriculture, to emphasize practical training alongside academic knowledge.