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| Prof. Tahir |
OPENING ADDRESS BY PROFESSOR TAHIR MAMMAN OON, SAN HONOURABLE MINISTER OF EDUCATION, DELIVERED AT THE COLLOQUIUM OF STAKEHOLDERS’ ON THE CORE CURRICULUM AND MINIMUM ACADEMIC STANDARDS (CCMAS) HELD ON WEDNESDAY, 23RD AUGUST, 2023 AT THE IDRIS ABDULKADIR AUDITORIUM, NATIONAL UNIVERSITIES COMMISSION, ABUJA.
Protocol
I would have loved to be here with you all in person, but as you know, I was only sworn-in barely two days ago, along with my colleagues, as Ministers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. However, I must express my delight that one of the first outside assignment I would be performing, even if remotely through the Permanent Secretary, is this Stakeholders’ Colloquium on the Core Curriculum and Minimum Academic Standards (CCMAS).
2. The theme “The State of the CCMAS, Sensitization and Implementation” is very appropriate as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR is committed to providing and sustaining a Renewed Hope for the country. There is no better place and time than now to develop a strategy that will guide Tertiary institutions particularly universities in their mandate to provide appropriate manpower for the country using a curriculum and applying minimum standards that would guarantee we teach our students in such a way and manner that they would be highly skilled and employable to contribute to national development efforts.
3. I am aware that this colloquium is coming on the heels of over 4-years of extensive efforts put towards the development of the CCMAS in collaboration with a myriad of stakeholders within and outside the academia. This reviewed curriculum was subsequently launched by no less a personali5y than the immediate-past Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo GCON SAN, on 5th December, 2022.
4. As someone who has been involved in applying the various Minimum Academic Standards, from the days of MAS, B-MAS and now CCMAS, and also participated in the CCMAS development, I wish to commend the emphasis that only 70% of the total curriculum is captured in the CCMAS while 30% of the curriculum has been ceded to universities Senates to build in the uniqueness of their various universities. This principle allows for a good deal of adaptation that suits not only local peculiarities of the universities but most importantly provides all universities opportunities to carve a niche for themselves in areas of comparative advantage.
5. What such advantage confers on universities that make optimal use of the 30% university senate’s input is to ensure that learning outcomes and the skills as well as soft skills to be acquired, irrespective of the core discipline would be readily applicable to the environment of the university, the country in particular and the global community in general.
6. At this point, I wish to thank all the universities who have so far concluded their work on the 30% component and submitted same for review. I urge those who have not, to please endeavour to do so in the shortest possible time as the next academic session rolls in.
7. I also thank you all most sincerely for recognising the importance of this colloquium and for deeming it necessary to participate in your numbers. Indeed, your participation in this event is a demonstration of your shared commitment to the advancement of education in general, and to the sustained relevance of the curriculum in the Nigerian Universities. This is because curricula, as dynamic as they are, are the foundation upon which our educational system is built, thus shaping the intellectual and personal growth of generations of graduates who go through our universities.
8. I applaud and thank once more, all those who were involved in, and those who are still involved with the CCMAS at this time for your meticulous development and review of the curriculum for all programmes in the Nigerian University System. Special commendation goes to the National Universities Commission, for continuously championing the re-engineering and revitalisation of the Nigerian University System (NUS), for optimal service delivery in the last 6 decades.
9. The convening of this colloquium is necessary as we work towards resumption of academic activities in September, 2023. The commitment we show in implementing the CCMAS would determine to what extent our labour of the past years would contribute to value-addition to scholarship.
10. I therefore, urge you all to dialogue openly and constructively, bearing in mind the rigour that had gotten us to this stage. Your insights, experiences, and perspectives are invaluable and will ensure that we emerge from this gathering with a conviction that what we have done reflects the aspiration of our society and the potentials of our students.
11. I want to assure you, that the Federal Government of Nigeria would continue to strive in ensuring that our education system remain nationally relevant and globally competitive. This can best be achieved when we embrace proven and tested pedagogical methods in the delivery of this curriculum. I also urge you, as my fellow academics, to explore new avenues, harness technology and infuse creativity into its teaching, as these would cater for the evolving needs of today’s fast but impatient learners.
12. As has been demonstrated by His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, in some of his major pronouncements since assuming leadership of our great country, this administration is unwaveringly committed to the continuous repositioning and revitalisation of the entire education sector for a quickened socio-economic development of our dear country, Nigeria.
13. It is, therefore, my pleasure to declare this colloquium opened.
14. Thank you for listening.
15. Long live the Nigerian University System!