Former Vice-Chancellor of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Prof. Abdalla Uba Adamu, has warned that Nigerian universities risk losing relevance if they continue to prioritise certificates over practical skills in a rapidly changing global environment driven by artificial intelligence.
Adamu gave the warning on Tuesday while delivering a valedictory lecture to the Governing Council of NOUN during the exit ceremony of the outgoing Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Olufemi Peters.
Speaking on the theme “How Should the University of Tomorrow Look Like?”, Adamu said higher education institutions in Nigeria and much of the Global South remain trapped in what he described as a modern form of “diploma disease” — an excessive reliance on academic credentials that no longer guarantee employment or societal relevance.
According to him, certificates have shifted from being pathways to careers to instruments of survival in uncertain labour markets.
“The diploma disease has not disappeared; it has only changed its form,” he said. “Credentials are now accumulated not because they guarantee opportunity, but because the absence of credentials almost certainly guarantees marginality.”
Drawing on the work of British scholar Ron Dore, Adamu explained that education now serves more as social insurance against exclusion than as preparation for clearly defined professions.
He cited Kano State as an example of structural imbalance in the university system, noting that despite having 14 universities — six public and eight private — none is dedicated specifically to computer science or information and communication technology (ICT).
“With the exception of a medical university, they all teach largely the same courses,” he said, describing the trend as evidence of certification-driven expansion rather than relevance-based planning.
Adamu also pointed to the disruptive impact of technology, particularly artificial intelligence, on traditional notions of value creation and employment.
He noted that digital platforms now allow individuals outside the formal education system to earn significant income, underscoring the need for universities to rethink their role in skills development.
The former NOUN VC urged universities to transform into open knowledge ecosystems that prioritise future-oriented skills such as critical thinking, digital and AI literacy, creativity, ethical reasoning, emotional intelligence and career adaptability.
According to him, universities must focus on teaching students how to “learn, unlearn and relearn” rather than training them for single, static careers.
He stressed that institutions unwilling to innovate and respond to real-world challenges risk becoming obsolete in the 21st century.
“Universities are no longer just centres of knowledge; they are launchpads for lifelong adaptability,” Adamu said.
