The deputy speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has urged the nation’s universities to integrate artificial intelligence-driven solutions into their curricula.

In a statement on Friday, Levinus Nwabughiogu, his chief press secretary, said Mr Kalu stressed the need for education to go beyond theories, adding that lecturers should keep pace with technological advancements.

He said Mr Kalu gave the advice during the University of Calabar’s 50th anniversary and 37th convocation lecture and award ceremony in Calabar.

Highlighting the rapid impact of AI and automation, Mr Kalu cited World Economic Forum projections that AI would displace 85 million jobs by 2025 while creating 97 million new roles.

He said the new roles would be in fields such as AI ethics, cybersecurity and sustainability.

The deputy speaker said that many Nigerian universities are not preparing students for emerging careers.

He urged them to close the gap between academics and real-world challenges to drive national progress.

Mr Kalu called on them to become catalysts for societal development in physical communities and the digital space.

The deputy speaker called on Nigerian business leaders to support universities through internships, apprenticeships and mentorship programmes.

After receiving an award, Senate President Godswill Akpabio said  President Bola Tinubu’s vision and policies in education would transform the country.

Mr Akpabio acknowledged the nation’s current challenges but assured that Nigerians would see significant progress in no distant time.

He expressed optimism that Nigeria would move toward self-sufficiency by producing what it would consume and consuming what it would produce.

(NAN)