By Mokobia Rita
ASABA/Nigeria: Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, has challenged tertiary institutions in the state to move beyond expanding access to higher education and concentrate on producing graduates equipped for employment, entrepreneurship and the demands of a rapidly changing economy.
The Governor, represented by the Commissioner for Higher Education, Prof. Nyerhovwo Tonukari, gave the charge at the third Delta State Higher Education Summit held at the Southern Delta University, Orerokpe Campus.
The summit, which focused on “Artificial Intelligence and Technology in Tertiary Institutions,” brought together academics, administrators, policymakers and other stakeholders to examine the changing demands of higher education and the implications of emerging technologies for teaching, research and institutional development.
In the presentation on behalf of the Governor, Tonukari said the expansion of tertiary education in Delta must now be matched by improvements in the quality and relevance of education being delivered.
He said the state currently has four government-owned universities, three polytechnics and two colleges of education, in addition to federal and private tertiary institutions operating across the state.
According to him, enrolment in state-owned institutions has increased from slightly above 50,000 students in 2023 to more than 100,000, while the state government has recruited more than 1,250 academic and non-academic staff.
He also said the government had invested in academic and administrative infrastructure, laboratories, hostels and accreditation, while providing support to selected federal and private institutions.
Tonukari said the expansion represented an important opportunity for Delta’s higher education system, but stressed that increased enrolment should ultimately produce measurable benefits for students and society.
“Access is only the beginning. The question before us is: what are we doing with this opportunity?” he asked.
He identified graduate employability as one of the major tests of the effectiveness of tertiary education, urging institutions to review their curricula in response to changes in the economy and workplace.
He said students needed more than academic qualifications, stressing the importance of digital competence, entrepreneurship, communication skills, critical thinking and practical experience.
The Commissioner also called for closer relationships between tertiary institutions and industry, particularly through entrepreneurship programmes, internships and the Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme.
He said stronger industry links would expose students to practical challenges and improve their readiness for employment and enterprise after graduation.
Research, he added, should be increasingly directed towards challenges confronting communities and the wider economy.
Tonukari identified agriculture, environmental degradation, flooding, healthcare, fisheries, agro-processing and economic diversification among areas where tertiary institutions could produce research with practical value.
He said research findings should, where appropriate, progress beyond academic publications into patents, products, technologies, services and policies capable of addressing real-world problems.
The Commissioner further advocated greater specialisation among tertiary institutions, saying institutions should identify areas in which they could develop distinctive strengths rather than attempting to compete across every discipline.
He cited Delta State University, Abraka, as having potential for a stronger research profile, while identifying Southern Delta University, Ozoro, for technology development, Delta State Maritime Polytechnic, Burutu, for maritime and blue-economy studies, and the College of Education, Mosogar, for sports education.
The call for specialisation comes against the backdrop of the state’s expanding higher education system and the establishment of new institutions. Tonukari had earlier described the Orerokpe campus of Southern Delta University as part of the state’s effort to build institutions responsive to emerging technological and economic realities.
On artificial intelligence, Tonukari said Delta’s institutions could not afford to remain outside the technological transformation taking place globally.
He, however, stressed that adoption of AI should not undermine critical thinking, creativity, ethics or academic integrity.
Governor Oborevwori had similarly urged academics at the summit to ensure that artificial intelligence serves as a tool for enhancing human capacity rather than replacing human thinking. He also called for safeguards around academic integrity, privacy and ethical standards as institutions adopt emerging technologies.
Tonukari also urged tertiary institutions to broaden their funding sources through research grants, consultancy services, professional programmes, alumni support, intellectual property, commercial ventures and appropriately structured partnerships with the private sector.
He said universities, polytechnics and colleges should also strengthen their relationships with host communities through health programmes, agricultural extension services, adult education, youth mentorship and other community-based initiatives.
The Commissioner called on professors and researchers to play a stronger role in public policy discussions and produce research and technologies capable of gaining recognition beyond Nigeria.
He also appealed to the private sector to regard tertiary institutions as development partners rather than merely centres for producing graduates, advocating industry-sponsored research, internships, laboratories, scholarships and technology partnerships.
Tonukari challenged vice-chancellors, rectors and provosts to develop clear identities for their institutions, deepen collaboration with industry and ensure that their graduates are prepared for a labour market being reshaped by technology.
The summit, according to reports from the event, also featured presentations by former Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission, Prof. Peter Okebukola, and Prof. Jonathan Tsetimi on artificial intelligence, technology adoption and AI readiness within Delta’s higher education system.
The broader message from the summit was that the expansion of Delta’s tertiary education system would need to be accompanied by stronger links between education, research, technology and the needs of society.
