American Open University VC, Akanbi, Calls for Skilled Graduates, Not Mere Exam Passers
The Vice-Chancellor of American Open University, Professor Seyi Akanbi, has called for a fundamental reform of Nigeria’s education system, stressing the need to shift from an examination-based model to one that places greater emphasis on practical skills and what graduates can do.
Akanbi argued that academic performance should not be the sole measure of a student’s knowledge or competence, noting that passing examinations does not necessarily mean that a graduate possesses the skills required to succeed in the workplace.
Speaking at the Tribune Discourse organized by the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Tribune chapel, Akanbi said universities should focus more on equipping students with practical abilities that can make them employable and enable them to contribute meaningfully to the economy.
He said, “I did know how to write examinations and answer questions, but that should not be the measure of somebody’s knowledge. The real question should be: what can the person do with the degree?”
Akanbi said the disconnect between university education and the labour market was partly responsible for the paradox of unemployment in Nigeria, where employers struggle to find suitably qualified workers despite the large number of job seekers.
He noted that if universities could produce graduates with the right practical skills, a significant proportion of them would be able to secure employment or create opportunities for themselves.
“This is why, if you graduate 1,000 students, you should be able to say that about 600 of them will be good every year. We will then not have the paradox we have now, where there are jobs available and multiple people looking for jobs, but the people looking for the jobs are not qualified for the jobs available,” he said.
The Vice-Chancellor also advocated stronger collaboration between universities and industry, particularly in the recruitment of lecturers.
He questioned the practice of placing graduates who excelled academically directly into university teaching positions without sufficient practical experience in their fields.
“If somebody studies Human Resources, graduates with a first class and is exceptionally good, why should the immediate option be to teach people how to become HR professionals? What has that person done in the field?” he asked.
Akanbi suggested that outstanding graduates should first be encouraged to gain experience in industry and subsequently serve as part-time instructors, allowing them to combine practical experience with classroom teaching.
He said such an arrangement would help bridge the gap between theory and practice and ensure that students are taught by people who understand the realities of the industries they are preparing to enter.
According to him, Nigeria must urgently rethink its education system if it hopes to compete effectively with countries such as China.
“How do we compete with China if we continue this way? That is another thing that I think Nigeria needs to address,” he said.
Earlier, in her opening address, Chairman of NUJ Tribune Chapel, Bunmi Ishola, said the discourse was aimed at confronting issues critical to Nigeria’s future.
“The reality before us is clear. While the demand for higher education continues to grow, access remains a major challenge. Many young Nigerians are still unable to secure places in conventional institutions, while distance, cost, inadequate infrastructure and other barriers keep education beyond the reach of many.
“Technology offers us a new possibility. With online learning and digital education, the classroom is no longer necessarily confined by four walls. A student in a rural community can potentially access a lecturer, course or institution hundreds of kilometres away. But we must ask: Are we truly prepared to make this opportunity accessible to every Nigerian?”she said .
