…says universities must produce job creators, not job seekers
The National Universities Commission (NUC), in partnership with EyeCity Africa, has called for a bold shift in how Nigerian higher education institutions (HEIs) approach entrepreneurship and innovation, stressing that HEIs must become engines of innovation, job creation and national development. This was the key highlight at the Stakeholder Roundtable session on “Rethinking Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Higher Education in Nigeria” held in Abuja.
The roundtable convened senior representatives from leading actors in the innovation and higher education ecosystem, including the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), British Council, the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), Policy Innovation Centre (PIC) and other development partners, innovation hubs, industry leaders, and universities like Covenant University, Ahmadu Bello University and many others. The strong attendance reflects a growing consensus that the country’s development will be shaped by how well its institutions translate knowledge into real-world impact.
Declaring the session open on behalf of the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission, Director of Research, Innovation, and Information Technology, Lawal Mohammed Faruk, stated the importance of purposeful collaboration at this critical moment for Nigerian higher education. He noted that universities are more than centres of instruction; they are engines of innovation and national development. With a dynamic higher education system and a young, energetic population, this is a unique opportunity to reposition Nigerian universities at the forefront of transformative innovation. Mal. Faruk stressed that innovation should be seen as a system, a culture, and a national asset that must be nurtured to scale and be sustained.
The National Universities Commission acknowledged ongoing strides in entrepreneurship development within universities, particularly through the reforms under the Core Curriculum and Minimum Academic Standards, which prioritise entrepreneurship, innovation-driven technology, industry relevance, practical training, and teacher capacity development. The establishment of entrepreneurship development centres and the strengthening of university–industry relationships were also highlighted as key progress points. Mal. Faruk encouraged stakeholders to use the roundtable as a platform for shared learning and co-creation, reflecting on how universities can rethink curricula, research, and partnerships to drive innovation and entrepreneurship that meaningfully contribute to national development.
Representing EyeCity Africa, Associate Director, Abraham Omotayo, underscored this challenge by highlighting that Nigeria produces over 600,000 graduates annually, while the formal economy creates far fewer jobs. This imbalance has widened unemployment and underemployment, despite the presence of exceptional talent within higher education institutions. He emphasised that innovation already exists on campuses, with students and researchers building solutions that have grown into successful ventures, but more deliberate structures are needed to translate ideas into scalable products, enterprises, and market-ready solutions.
Omotayo further noted that brilliant research generated within HEIs often ends up in academic publications with an often unclear route to market-readiness or industry application. According to him, Nigeria must take deliberate steps to strengthen the culture of innovation and entrepreneurship within its higher education framework if it hopes to catalyse economic growth and globally relevant solutions. He stressed that Nigeria does not have a talent crisis but a structural challenge: the system is not fully designed to help young problem-solvers convert ideas into enterprises that create livelihoods and solutions.
EyeCity Africa presented early findings from its national study on entrepreneurship and innovation within higher education institutions in Nigeria. The findings show that 9 of 10 Nigerian institutions have integrated entrepreneurship education into their curricula, with some owning entrepreneurship centres or innovation hubs, while encouraging industry-focused research through training programs, conferences, and innovation programmes. The study also highlighted improved efforts to connect student innovators with industry, with three out of five institutions providing structured support, and incubation hubs offering mentorship, hackathons, and prototype development. Technology Transfer Offices (TTOs) now exist in many institutions, although they are not as effective, and most activities still primarily serve internal stakeholders. The report notes that despite this encouraging progress, further work is needed to strengthen industry linkages, accelerate research commercialisation, and enhance the practical application of innovation to fully position Nigerian HEIs as engines of job creation and national development.
The roundtable also featured a high-level panel discussion moderated by Emem Etim, Creative Innovation Lead at EyeCity Africa. The discussion explored key enablers for strengthening innovation and entrepreneurship in Nigerian universities, including industry collaboration, funding pathways, intellectual property protection, and equipping students with the skills and mindset needed to transform research into commercially viable solutions.
Participants at the event agreed that urgent reforms are needed to strengthen pathways that turn knowledge into value. Discussions highlighted the importance of establishing dedicated structures such as Technology Transfer Offices (TTOs), innovation and intellectual property centres, and dedicated funding mechanisms within universities. Stakeholders also recognised the need to encourage greater mentorship and perspectives from industry experts, enhance alumni engagement as a potential innovation financing vehicle, and create outcomes-focused accreditation models that emphasise job creation and commercially viable innovations.
To sustain the momentum from the engagement, the conveners established an Innovation Working Group to coordinate ongoing collaboration, develop policy-aligned recommendations, and track progress from the roundtable. The group comprises seven members, with the National Universities Commission, EyeCity Africa, and the British Council serving as permanent members.
The session ended on a note of collaboration and shared responsibility, with stakeholders emphasising that sustained progress will require coordinated efforts across HEIs, industry, and development partners. By working together, delegates aim to ensure that Nigeria’s higher education system becomes a powerful engine for innovation, enterprise, and inclusive economic growth.
