Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, has tasked Nigerian universities to close the gap between academia and real-world challenges to drive national progress.
Speaking at the University of Calabar’s 50th anniversary, 37th convocation lecture and award ceremonies in Calabar, he stressed the need for education to go beyond theory, urging institutions to become catalysts for societal development both in physical communities and the digital space.
He called on Nigerian business leaders to support universities through internships, apprenticeships, and mentorship programs, highlighting the rapid impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and automation, and citing World Economic Forum projections that AI will displace 85 million jobs by 2025, while creating 97 million new roles.
Speaking after receiving his award, Senate President Senator Godswill Akpabio stated that, in line with President Bola Tinubu’s vision, his policies are timely and will transform the country.
He acknowledged current challenges but assured that within the next one to two years, Nigerians would see significant progress.
Earlier in their remarks, the chairman of the occasion, Prof. Eka Braide, and Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar, Prof. Florence Banku Obi, highlighted the importance of community service and active engagement in universities to ensure that academic work remains relevant to societal needs and contributes to sustainable development.