Universities’ Low Global Rankings Tied To Poor Tech Adoption, NBA President Warns At UNN Event

President of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Afam Osigwe, SAN, yesterday, called on Nigerian universities and other educational institutions to innovate by embracing information and communication technology (ICT) or go into extinction.

Osigwe made the call while delivering the 53rd Convocation Lecture of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), stating that the educational system of the country was yet to fully embrace innovative changes in ICT, especially regarding teaching, learning and research.

He spoke on the topic: “Harnessing Technological Innovation in Teaching and Learning”, lamenting the low ranking of nation’s universities on global performance indices, and stressing that it was a reflection of systemic issues.

Osigwe declared that universities could not effectively serve the society unless “our educational system recognises the tremendous changes brought by technology, globalisation and mobility”.

He identified the challenges facing the nation’s educational system, saying: “I will be the first to admit that transforming education is a complex task, replete with challenges that demand immediate attention. Our education system grapples with chronic underfunding, resulting in a dire shortage of essential resources.

“It struggles to attract and retain qualified teachers due to low salaries, poor infrastructure, insufficient teaching tools, poor working conditions and inadequate training opportunities.”

I have, however, chosen to focus on the transformative effect of deploying technological innovations in teaching and learning.” On how Nigerian universities could embrace technological innovations, Osigwe recommended utilising virtual learning environments, designing dynamic curricula, and exploring emerging fields in educational sciences.

“I ask us to reflect: Since independence, have our teaching methods—reliant on lecture-based delivery without visual aids—and our students’ learning approaches, which have largely centred around passing exams, truly evolved?

“Globally, universities are rooted in the liberal arts tradition, which seek to liberate the mind from immediate constraints, broaden perspectives and enable conceptual and analytical thinking. While this approach has its merits, it often neglects practical applications and fails to integrate technological advancements into teaching and learning.

“In Nigeria, this mindset has led to an overemphasis or reliance on theoretical knowledge, to the detriment of developing adaptable skills suited to the realities of today’s world.”

He noted that the Nigerian Education Roadmap (2023) focused on ambitious reform plans, highlighting advancing digital infrastructure, improving teachers’ training, and rethinking curriculum delivery.

He, however, regretted that despite efforts, translating the reforms into measurable outcomes remained a challenge, saying: “The integration of technology in both professional (e.g., law, medicine, engineering) and non-professional disciplines has been slow and inconsistent, leaving Nigerian graduates ill-prepared to compete globally.”

He observed that technology in Nigerian universities often remained an afterthought and noted that libraries were largely analogue and ill-equipped, while search mechanisms were manual, and classrooms relied heavily on traditional in-person teaching with minimal use of online platforms.