By Waziri Isa Adam Gwantu
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has charged Nigerian universities to reposition as centres of innovation and problem-solving that will drive the country’s economic and social transformation under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
The President who was was represented by the Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmad, made the call on Monday in Ilorin, Kwara State, at the opening of the 37th General Assembly Conference of the Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities, CVCNU, hosted by the University of Ilorin.
President Tinubu said the Federal Government recognizes the indispensable role of universities in national development and has placed education and human capital development at the centre of its policy. He commended the CVCNU for sustaining the platform for dialogue and collaboration among university leaders.
He noted that universities are more than places for awarding degrees. According to him, they must be hubs of knowledge creation, critical thinking, entrepreneurship, cultural development and national transformation. The Nigeria being envisioned, he said, requires graduates who are academically sound, innovative, ethical, digitally competent and able to solve real-world problems.
The President pointed out that artificial intelligence, digital learning platforms, automation, biotechnology, renewable energy and data science are redefining work and the skills needed to succeed. He asked Vice-Chancellors to reflect on the kind of graduates being produced and how effectively universities are preparing them for Nigeria’s development.
To address these challenges, President Tinubu said government is implementing the Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative, NESRI. At the tertiary level, the focus is on strengthening governance, improving quality assurance, promoting research and innovation, enhancing digital transformation and expanding skills development. Government is also working to strengthen linkages between education and the world of work.
He stressed that effective university governance is fundamental to every reform. Universities, he said, must operate with transparency, accountability, efficiency and responsible stewardship of public resources. Vice-Chancellors, he added, carry enormous responsibilities as academic leaders, managers and financial stewards, and must strengthen internal systems and evaluate programmes continuously.
President Tinubu urged universities to become powerful engines of research and entrepreneurship rather than relying on knowledge generated elsewhere. He said research findings must move beyond journals into products, services, policies and technologies that address problems in agriculture, healthcare, energy, security and manufacturing. He called for stronger partnerships with government, industry and communities, and for clearer pathways for young researchers to build enterprises.
On graduate employability, the President said employers now demand problem-solving, communication, teamwork, digital skills and entrepreneurship alongside academic qualifications. He tasked universities to expand internships, work-based learning and entrepreneurship programmes so that graduates leave as creators of value, not just job seekers.
He also emphasized student welfare, safety, inclusion and mental well-being. The Federal Government’s Nigerian Education Loan Fund, he explained, is designed to reduce financial barriers to tertiary education. However, he added that financial support must be matched with quality programmes, adequate infrastructure and a conducive learning environment so that no talented Nigerian is denied opportunity because of economic circumstances.
President Tinubu said the transformation of the university system requires courageous leadership and collective responsibility. Government, he stated, will continue to provide an enabling policy environment, while expecting universities to demonstrate accountability, innovation and measurable impact.
He declared the 37th General Assembly open and expressed optimism that the deliberations would produce actionable outcomes to make Nigerian universities more competitive, inclusive and responsive. He commended CVCNU for organizing the conference and the University of Ilorin for hosting.