Stakeholders in Nigeria's education sector have issued a powerful call for the nation to fundamentally rethink its approach to learning, urging a decisive shift from an obsession with paper certificates to the cultivation of practical, hands-on skills. This consensus emerged at the 2025 summit of the Education Writers Association of Nigeria (EWAN), held at the Julius Berger Auditorium, University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka.
A Deep-Rooted Obsession with Certificates
Addressing the theme, 'Nigeria’s obsession with paper qualification and integrity of public examinations: Is TVET the way forward,' the Vice-Chancellor of UNILAG, Prof. Folasade Ogunsola, stated that the country must confront its deep-seated fixation on degrees. Represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Development Services, Prof. Foluso Lesi, she argued that the education system should start rewarding competencies, skills, and positive attitudes rather than paper qualifications alone.
She warned that this culture of attaching excessive value to certificates has fueled unhealthy competition and widespread examination malpractice. "The societal pressure for degrees at all costs is partly responsible for cheating," she noted, adding that many learners pursue certificates not for knowledge but for the social and economic rewards they promise. Prof. Ogunsola advocated for stronger adoption of digital systems as the most effective tool to curb exam fraud.
TVET: The Path to Industrialisation and Innovation
Former Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Technical and Vocational Education Board (LASTVEB), Chief Olawunmi Gasper, delivered a critical analysis. He stated that Nigeria has operated for decades under a flawed philosophy that mistakenly equates certificates with competence, character, and productivity.
"When a society worships certificates over creativity and practical ability, shortcuts and unethical practices naturally prevail," Gasper asserted. He championed Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) as the engine for industrialisation, innovation, entrepreneurship, and employment globally. He lamented that in Nigeria, TVET is wrongly perceived as a fallback for academic 'failures,' a perception that must change urgently.
Gasper outlined essential reforms, including:
- Upgrading technical colleges and their curricula to align with industry needs.
- Emphasising digital skills, renewable energy, and creative industries.
- Developing modern apprenticeship systems.
"In an era of automation, Nigeria needs technicians, creative artists, renewable energy installers, and robotics experts," he stressed, calling for programmes that blend technical skills with entrepreneurship.
Systemic Challenges and the Integrity of Learning
EWAN Chairman, Mr. Mojeed Alabi, highlighted a critical imbalance in his welcome address: Nigeria produces many engineers but very few technicians, leaving vital sectors like infrastructure development underserved. He emphasised that TVET must be elevated as a mainstream pathway for national development.
The Executive Director of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), Prof. Idris Bugaje, represented by Director Ayo Aroge, raised an alarming trend. He revealed that Nigeria lacks sufficient TVET institutions, and many existing ones are being converted into certificate-awarding universities. "The country needs technicians far more than paper qualifications alone," he stated.
On examination integrity, the Registrar of the National Examinations Council (NECO), Prof. Ibrahim Dantani Wushishi, stressed the need to strengthen foundational elements like teacher quality, school infrastructure, and syllabus design. The Head of WAEC Nigeria Office, Dr. Amos Dangut, added that cheating often stems from students not understanding their own deficiencies, with the problem's roots extending to the family level.
Concluding the discussions, the National President of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), Chief Yomi Otubela, called for increased investment in infrastructure across both public and private schools to help address the malaise of malpractice.
