The Nigerian university system is set for a significant transformation following the introduction of hundreds of new academic courses. The Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Abdullahi Ribadu, has announced that a total of 879 new programmes were approved for Nigerian universities in the year 2025.
Driving Change with the CCMAS Framework
This massive expansion is built upon the recently approved Core Curriculum Minimum Academic Standards (CCMAS). Prof. Ribadu explained that the CCMAS serves as the guiding framework for all university programmes in Nigeria. Its structure mandates that 70 per cent of the curriculum consists of core content essential to the discipline, while the remaining 30 per cent is reserved for content unique to each university, allowing for specialisation and institutional identity.
A key objective of these new programmes is to align Nigerian graduates with global demands. To achieve this, the curricula have been infused with critical 21st-century skills. These include digital literacy, entrepreneurial training, and enhanced problem-solving abilities, with the specific skill sets tailored to meet the needs of each academic discipline.
A Seven-Point Agenda for Reform
Prof. Ribadu outlined a comprehensive seven-point agenda that will steer his administration's efforts to reposition the Nigerian University System (NUS). This cardinal plan focuses on several critical areas:
- Increasing access to university education.
- Enhancing funding and securing external support.
- Driving digitisation across campuses.
- Strengthening quality assurance mechanisms.
- Promoting innovation and research output.
- Stabilising the academic calendar.
- Revisiting and updating the NUC's governing laws.
The NUC boss emphasised his administration's unwavering commitment to achieving these objectives to fundamentally reform the university landscape.
Ensuring Quality and Building Capacity
Alongside introducing new programmes, the Commission is intensifying efforts to maintain high standards. Ribadu highlighted ongoing routine accreditation exercises as a cornerstone of their quality assurance strategy. Furthermore, in a move to boost faculty expertise, the NUC is collaborating with the University of Sussex in the United Kingdom. This partnership is designed to organise professional development courses specifically for Nigerian university lecturers, ensuring teaching quality keeps pace with curricular advancements.
The introduction of 879 programmes under the CCMAS represents one of the most substantial academic reforms in recent years. It signals a deliberate shift by the NUC to modernise Nigeria's higher education sector, with the ultimate goal of producing graduates who can compete and excel on the world stage.
