By James Ogunnaike, Abeokuta

The Vice-Chancellor of Caleb University, Imota, Lagos, Professor Olalekan Asikhia, has called on Nigerian higher institutions to overhaul their curricula to meet national needs, enhance human-capital development, and support the country’s socio-economic mobility.

Professor Asikhia, who made the call while delivering the 57th inaugural lecture of Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State, noted that universities have a decisive role to play in reducing poverty and stimulating economic growth.

In the lecture titled “It is Time for Functional Businesses to Kill Poverty in Africa,” Asikhia said universities can empower individuals to break the cycle of poverty by adopting curricula aligned with national priorities, stressing that such an approach, not only prepares graduates for the dynamic demands of the modern economy, but also positions universities as “pivotal contributors to national competitiveness and economic development.”

“To achieve this, he charged universities to go beyond traditional teaching and research by becoming active engines of entrepreneurship and innovation. These expanded roles, he said, would help reposition Nigerian institutions as “critical agents in the transition from a resource-dependent economy to a knowledge-driven society.”

“Africa does not lack potential, talent or resources. What we need are functional businesses, visionary thinking, integrity and institutions that work.”

He called for a shift from charity-based poverty reduction to enterprise-driven prosperity anchored on innovation, entrepreneurship and accountability.

Highlighting the continent’s urgent need for job creation, youth empowerment and economic independence, he stressed that “the future belongs to nations that build functional businesses, not nations that wait for charity.”

Asikhia outlined a three-dimensional framework for poverty alleviation; scientific, educational and cultural, saying that scientific poverty alleviation requires university-led research and technological innovation to generate practical solutions to economic challenges.

“Educational poverty alleviation, he said, focuses on improving access to quality education, financial aid and vocational development for disadvantaged populations.

“The cultural dimension entails promoting values, social cohesion and innovative thinking that support sustainable community development”.

He advocated collaboration between universities and the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) to register student start-ups, allowing them to operate while still in school. He also called for more flexible curricula aligned with National Universities Commission (NUC) guidelines, noting that such flexibility would help student entrepreneurs overcome resource constraints and access global markets.

Asikhia further underscored the importance of university-led research addressing socio-economic challenges and community-service initiatives that directly benefit host communities. According to him, higher institutions should foster environments where innovation, entrepreneurship and collaboration thrive.

“Universities should serve as incubators for start-ups, providing research facilities, mentorship and access to funding,” he said. He added that business owners must look beyond profit-making to building sustainable enterprises and supporting university-industry collaboration that exposes students to real-world practices and enhances their employability.

He also urged alignment with Universities for Poverty Alleviation, a global movement promoting the integration of poverty-reduction strategies into higher institutions’ core missions through education, research and social impact.

Asikhia concluded by stressing the urgent need for Nigerian universities to adopt a proactive, market-oriented approach that equips graduates with the competencies and mindset for self-reliance and societal advancement.