A Professor of Labour Economics at the University of Lagos, Olukemi Lawanson, has called for an urgent overhaul of Nigeria’s higher education curriculum to align with modern labour market demands, particularly in response to advancements in artificial intelligence and emerging technologies.
Speaking at the University of Lagos Inaugural Lecture titled “To Everything There Is a Season… The Perspectives of a Labour Economist” at the J.F. Ade Ajayi Auditorium, Lawanson emphasized the need to phase out outdated courses that no longer align with today’s job market realities.
She urged the National Universities Commission to take the lead in restructuring academic programmes to equip students with relevant, future-proof skills.
“The NUC, as the regulator of tertiary education, must ensure that only relevant courses are taught. Many traditional courses are already obsolete or on the verge of becoming irrelevant due to AI-driven automation,” Lawanson stated.
She advocated a “total and complete overhaul” of the current curriculum to introduce AI-focused subjects and other technology-driven courses that reflect global best practices.
According to her, universities must not only introduce AI-related courses
but also retrain lecturers to keep pace with evolving teaching methodologies and international standards.
Lawanson further stressed the government’s responsibility in modernizing education through AI-driven programmes. She outlined key steps to achieve this, including, Investment in AI Infrastructure, Establishing high-performance computing facilities, AI research labs, and data centers in universities to enable hands-on learning.
A National AI Policy for Education which include developing a structured framework to guide AI integration in teaching, research, and learning. Ethical AI Adoption by setting up policies to address concerns such as data privacy, algorithmic bias, and AI’s societal impact in education.
“The government must collaborate with universities to establish clear guidelines for the ethical use of AI, ensuring that students are trained not just in AI’s technical aspects but also in responsible AI development,” she added.
Beyond curriculum changes, Lawanson emphasized the need to reshape students’ mindsets to thrive in an AI-powered economy.
She challenged universities to foster creativity, innovation, and critical thinking, urging students to embrace entrepreneurship rather than relying solely on government jobs.
“Students must be challenged to think outside the box, be proactive, and develop problem-solving skills. Universities should create learning environments that encourage adaptability and innovation,” she said.
To position Nigeria as a competitive player in the global digital economy, Lawanson called for increased government funding for AI research in tertiary institutions.
She noted that investing in AI-driven education would empower universities to conduct groundbreaking research, develop AI-powered solutions, and train the next generation of experts.
“The government must take deliberate steps to support AI integration in education. By doing so, we will not only modernize our institutions but also ensure that our graduates are equipped for an AI-powered future,” she concluded.
