UNILAG Professor Calls for Scrapping of Outdated Courses in AI Era
A Professor of Labour Economics at the University of Lagos, Olukemi Lawanson, has called on the National Universities Commission (NUC) to revamp Nigeria’s higher education curriculum to align with modern labour market demands, particularly in response to advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and emerging technologies.
Delivering the University of Lagos inaugural lecture titled To Everything There Is a Season… The Perspectives of a Labour Economist at the J.F. Ade Ajayi Auditorium, Lawanson stressed the urgent need for a comprehensive review of academic programmes across tertiary institutions.
She emphasized the necessity of phasing out obsolete courses that have been rendered irrelevant by AI-driven automation while integrating AI-focused subjects into university curricula.
“The NUC, as the body responsible for designing and approving curricula in tertiary institutions, must ensure that only relevant courses are taught—courses that equip students with skills applicable in today’s labour market. Many traditional courses are already outdated or are on the verge of becoming obsolete,” she stated.
Lawanson called for a “total and complete overhaul” of the curriculum, urging the introduction of new courses that reflect global best practices and the evolving role of AI in various industries.
Additionally, she underscored the importance of training and retraining lecturers to keep pace with international standards in teaching methodologies.
Highlighting the government’s role, Lawanson urged collaboration with tertiary institutions to modernize education by incorporating AI-related programmes. She outlined key measures, including investment in AI infrastructure such as high-performance computing facilities, AI research labs, and data centers to enable effective deployment of AI technologies in education.
She also advocated for the establishment of a comprehensive national policy on AI in education, which would provide a structured framework for integrating AI into teaching, learning, and research at tertiary institutions.
“This policy should cover funding, infrastructure development, and curriculum design. Tertiary institutions should equip students with both technical and soft skills in areas such as machine learning, data science, and responsible AI development,” she noted.
Furthermore, Lawanson emphasized the importance of ethical AI adoption by urging universities to collaborate with the government in setting guidelines for AI use, addressing concerns such as data privacy, algorithmic bias, and the societal implications of AI-driven automation.
She also challenged university management teams to ensure that students are adequately prepared for the AI-driven job market.
“Students must be challenged to think outside the box, to be proactive, and to embrace entrepreneurship. Universities should create learning environments that foster problem-solving skills and adaptability,” she urged.
To strengthen Nigeria’s position in the global digital economy, Lawanson advocated increased government funding for AI research and innovation in tertiary institutions. She stressed that by supporting AI-driven education, universities could develop AI-powered solutions, conduct groundbreaking research, and train the next generation of AI experts.
Concluding her lecture, she asserted that embracing AI in education is crucial for national development and global competitiveness. “The government must take deliberate steps to support AI integration in education. By doing so, we will not only modernize our institutions but also ensure that our graduates are equipped for an AI-powered future,” she stated.
Her call for curriculum reform comes at a time when AI continues to reshape industries worldwide, making the need for an updated education system more urgent than ever.
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