Education minister Adamu Adamu has presented a new curriculum for Nigerian universities, saying it will add value to university graduates.

Mr Adamu stated this at the public presentation of Core Curriculum Minimum Academic Standards (CCMAS) Book 1 series for Nigerian universities and a book in his honour in Abuja on Tuesday.

The minister explained that the new curriculum would equip university graduates with the needed skills, knowledge and expertise to succeed in the 21st century.

“We must continue to ensure graduates from Nigerian universities are equipped with needed skills, knowledge and expertise in order to succeed in the 21st century,” Mr Adamu explained. “We must consistently strive to improve our educational programmes and learning with the reality of global best practices. The CCMAS book series is aimed at achieving this goal.”

Mr Adamu called for the full implementation of the curriculum while saying the launch of CCMAS in 17 disciplines was one of the greatest steps the National Universities Commission (NUC) took to ensure Nigerian universities meet current global demands.

“The implementation of CCMAS requires dedication, hard work and willingness to embrace change by everyone. Therefore it is important we embrace training and equipping our academics with the necessary skills and knowledge to implement CMAS,” he said.

Mr Adamu commended the NUC for its drive to ensure more private universities spring up. He said the commission’s effort was paying off with establishing more such institutions in northern Nigeria recently.

NUC executive secretary Rasheed Abubakar said as of “yesterday (Monday) morning, there were 111 private universities in the country,” and by “yesterday evening, the number had risen to 148 private universities in the country.”

“That is, of the 148 private universities in Nigeria, 87 or 60 per cent came during Adamu Adamu as minister of education,” the NUC boss said.

Mr Rasheed, who described CCMAS as a game-changer in Nigerian universities, commended former NUC executive secretary Peter Okebukola for his role in its development, describing him as the chief architect of the curriculum.

Also speaking, former chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Attahiru Jega, said the CCMAS was a right step in the right direction.

“This is very important contribution to the repositioning of the Nigerian education system,” Mr Jega stressed. “The new curriculum is no doubt a tremendous value addition to repositioning our education system, and it is wonderful that this has happened under the current minister of education, Adamu Adamu.”

(NAN)