The National Universities Commission (NUC) says it is repositioning Nigeria’s university system to meet global standards through the implementation of the Core Curriculum and Minimum Non-Academic Standards (CCMAS) and the review of guidelines on transnational education.
The Executive Secretary of the commission, Prof. Abdullahi Ribadu, stated this on Saturday at the 10th convocation ceremony of Gregory University, Uturu, Abia State.
Ribadu said the reforms were aimed at enhancing academic excellence, employability and global competitiveness of Nigerian graduates.
According to him, the commission has moved from benchmarking minimum academic standards to a core curriculum framework that prioritises the acquisition of 21st-century employability skills.
“The commission, in its effort to reposition the Nigerian university system for excellence and global competitiveness, has embarked on laudable projects, including curriculum development from minimum academic standards to Core Curriculum and New Non-Academic Standards,” he said.
He explained that under the new framework, the NUC provides 70 per cent of the curriculum content as mandatory minimum standards for graduation, while universities are allowed to design the remaining 30 per cent in line with their institutional philosophy and goals.
Ribadu, who was represented by Mr Chukwuemeka Ofor, added that the revised curriculum has been made available to universities and stakeholders both online and remotely.
He also disclosed that the commission had reviewed its guidelines on transnational education to allow foreign universities and educational innovators to operate in Nigeria through various partnership models.
According to him, these include franchise arrangements, branch campuses, training and articulation programmes, open and distance learning, acquisitions and teaching institution partnerships.
He said the initiative would improve access to quality higher education, curb brain drain and promote skills development by making foreign university programmes available within the country.
In his address, the founder of Gregory University, Prof. Gregory Ibe, urged the graduating students to confront Nigeria’s challenges with knowledge-driven and ICT-based solutions acquired during their studies.
Also speaking, the Chancellor of the university, Dr Okechukwu Gregory Ibe, said the institution was committed to leading research and innovation in Nigeria through the establishment of a world-class innovation centre.
“Our students are second to none in community development. We remain committed to ethics, discipline and service to humanity,” he said.
The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Cele Njoku, said the university would continue to equip young Nigerians with functional skills and relevant knowledge to tackle national and global challenges and contribute to economic diversification.
She added that the institution remained focused on producing graduates with usable skills comparable to those of world-class universities.
