The Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu has presented a new curriculum for Nigerian universities, saying it would add value to the graduates from the universities.
At the public presentation of Core Curriculum Minimum Academic Standards (CCMAS) Book 1 series for Nigerian universities and a book in his honour, in Abuja on Tuesday, Adamu said that the new curriculum would equip graduates across universities with the skills, knowledge, and expertise to succeed in the 21st century.
“We must continue to ensure graduates from Nigerian universities are equipped with needed skills, knowledge, and expertise in order to succeed in the 21st Century.
” We must consistently strive to improve our educational programmes and learning with the reality of global best practices. The CCMAS book series is aimed at achieving this goal”, the minister said.
He called for the full implementation of the curriculum while saying the launch of CCMAS in 17 disciplines was one of the greatest steps taken by the National Universities Commission (NUC) to ensure Nigerian universities meet current global demands.
“The implementation of CCMAS requires dedication, hard work, and willingness to embrace change by everyone, therefore it is important we embrace training and equipping our academics with the necessary skills and knowledge to implement CMAS”, he said.
Adamu also said that the present education backwardness being witnessed in the northern part of the country was caused by the people of the area.
He commended the NUC for its drive-in ensuring the springing up of more private universities and said the commission’s effort was paying off with the establishment of more of such institutions in Northern Nigeria in recent times.
He called for the establishment of Federal Teachers Service Commission, saying such move would ensure reforms put in place in the teaching profession yield desired results.
”I want to leave one legacy in your hands (heads of education agencies and others), we wrote a letter and the President approved everything, but there is one yet to come to fruition, that will make education totally different
”It was recently I realised that we need a Federal Teachers Service Commission, so I want to leave this in your hands, so that all those things approved by Mr president, the teachers will be able to get it, and education will begin to attract the best brains”, Adamu said.
NUC’s Executive Secretary, Prof. Rasheed Abubakar commended the minister for several achievements recorded under his watch, especially in the area of university development.
”As of yesterday morning, there were 111 private universities in the country, as of yesterday evening, the number had risen to 148 private universities in the country.
”That is, of the 148 private universities in Nigeria, 87 or 60 per cent came during Adamu Adamu as Minister of Education”, the NUC boss said.
Rasheed, who also described CCMAS as a game changer in Nigerian universities, commended former NUC Executive Secretary, Prof. Peter Okebukola, for his role in its development, describing him as the chief architect of the curriculum.
Former chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega said the CCMAS was a right step in the right direction.
“This is a very important contribution to the repositioning of the Nigerian education system.
” The new curriculum is no doubt a tremendous value addition to repositioning our education system and it is wonderful that this has happened under the current minister of education, Adamu Adamu”, he said.
A former Minister of Education, Prof. Ruqqayattu Rufai charged the trainees of the new curriculum to take prompt action in taking the training to various universities.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the event also witnessed tributes to the late Prof. Idris Abdulkadir and Prof. Nimi Briggs, as well as the unveiling of a book in honour of the minister titled: ‘Repositioning Nigerian Educational System; the Ministerial Footprints of Adamu Adamu”.
