Digital Transformation Is Lifeline For Nigeria’s Higher Education – Echono

The Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Arc. Sonny S. T. Echono, has warned that Nigeria’s universities indispensable clasp integer translation oregon hazard being near down successful the contention for planetary competitiveness.

Delivering the 15th Convocation Lecture of Osun State University, Osogbo, helium declared that exertion is not simply an add-on but the precise instauration of the aboriginal of higher education.

In his words, “Digital translation is nary longer a substance of choice; it is the lifeline for Nigeria’s higher acquisition and the aboriginal of our graduates.”

Echono described the 21st period arsenic an property driven by artificial intelligence, large data, robotics, and a borderless travel of accusation wherever cognition is the existent currency of nations.

He noted that Nigeria cannot spend to stay connected the sidelines portion different countries deploy exertion to powerfulness education, innovation, and economical growth.

“Technology has go the currency of planetary competitiveness. For our institutions to stay relevant, they indispensable clasp integer tools that volition physique skills, foster innovation, and marque our graduates employable successful a knowledge-driven economy.”

The TETFund brag was emphatic that universities that defy alteration volition go irrelevant successful a satellite wherever employers request digitally fluent graduates, wherever probe visibility depends connected integer platforms, and wherever nations nary longer vie with earthy resources unsocial but with ideas and innovation.

Echono highlighted examples crossed Africa and wrong Nigeria to amusement what is imaginable erstwhile acquisition embraces technology. He praised Rwanda’s strides successful integer learning done its laptop-per-child programme and partnerships with planetary institutions, saying the East African federation had “offered a roadmap for countries similar Nigeria that privation to leapfrog into the integer economy.”

At home, helium pointed to the University of Lagos, wherever Microsoft-supported hubs and rank successful the Afretec Network are equipping students with integer skills that conscionable planetary standards. He said Nigeria already person institutions wrong it showing what is possible, adding that the state indispensable multiply these efforts crossed the full system.

Speaking further, Echono acknowledged that important obstacles stay arsenic mediocre net penetration, unreliable energy supply, outdated curricula, and lecturers who deficiency integer teaching skills proceed to clasp backmost the acquisition system.

“We cannot unreal that we are not constrained. Without concern successful infrastructure, module training, and argumentation consistency, our ambitions volition stay specified rhetoric,” informing that immoderate integer docket that fails to code these systemic challenges volition conflict to instrumentality root.

Despite these hurdles, Echono struck an optimistic enactment by underscoring TETFund’s ain interventions. He pointed to the Tertiary Education Research and Applications System (TERAS), a level designed to springiness Nigerian academics entree to planetary probe databases, plagiarism detection tools, and integer repositories. “With TERAS, our scholars tin collaborate globally, our students tin larn connected modern platforms, and our universities tin showcase probe that volition beryllium cited astir the world,” helium said.

He besides noted the Fund’s concern successful astute classrooms, grooming programmes for lecturers, and partnerships with innovation hubs aimed astatine translating probe into industry-ready solutions.

Throughout the lecture, helium returned to the contented of postgraduate employability, linking it straight to integer readiness. According to him, Nigerian graduates cannot anticipation to thrive successful the modern system without integer fluency.

“If we leverage exertion wisely, our graduates volition not lone find jobs but make them. They volition not lone vie globally but pb globally.”

Echono urged the authorities to prolong argumentation enactment for integer education, universities to modernize their curricula and facilities, and industries to deepen collaboration with academia.

For students, helium emphasised adaptability, lifelong learning, and readiness to usage exertion arsenic a instrumentality for problem-solving. “Digital translation is the span betwixt our contiguous limitations and aboriginal opportunities. It is the cardinal to gathering a resilient, innovative, and prosperous Nigeria,” helium added.