The Federal Government’s declaration to phase out university courses deemed irrelevant to Nigeria’s economic future has sparked fierce opposition from key education stakeholders, including the Congress of University Academics (CONUA), the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU), and the National Parent Teacher Association of Nigeria (NAPTAN) .
The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, speaking at the “Renewed Hope Conversation” at the University of Abuja, warned that the era of studying courses with limited real-world value was ending, suggesting that several social science programmes could be cut . He cautioned students against using the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) for such disciplines, stating: “We are phasing out some of these courses that are deceiving you… there are not going to be jobs for you in the future” .
Stakeholders Push Back
Dr. Niyi Sunmonu, CONUA’s National President, argued that reform, not elimination, is the answer. “Education must adapt to changing times, but that adaptation should come through updating and modernising curricula, rather than discarding entire disciplines” .
NASU President, Dr. Makolo Hassan, questioned the basis for scrapping courses, insisting that “relevance cannot be determined at face value, but rather by curriculum and content” . He cited thriving graduates in languages and Religious Studies as counterpoints to the minister’s claim .
Call for Caution
NAPTAN President, Alhaji Haruna Danjuma, urged the government to “tread softly,” warning that parents would not accept their investments being declared worthless without expert scrutiny .
Despite the backlash, the minister maintained that the goal is to produce entrepreneurs rather than job seekers, announcing that an Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Business Incubation Certification (EPIC) will be mandatory in all tertiary institutions by 2027 .
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