By Atoyebi Nike
The Chancellor of Maduka University, Dr. Samuel Onyishi, has urged Nigerian universities to work more closely with industries. He made this call during a lecture at the University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus.
Onyishi warned that artificial intelligence is changing the job market fast. He said schools must adjust to help students stay relevant in a digital world.
“AI is already taking over jobs,” he said. “Universities must start preparing students for new ways of working.”
He expressed concern over Nigeria’s dependence on imported medical supplies. He said this shows the need to grow the local medical business sector.
Onyishi delivered a lecture titled “Entrepreneurship for Human Development and Economic Progression: A Call on Nigerian Universities.” He pointed out that the country has over 48 medical schools and hundreds of nursing colleges, yet little progress in medical innovation.
He said teaching entrepreneurship in a practical way is key to reducing poverty and unemployment. According to him, universities should move beyond theory and teach real-world business skills.
His proposed model includes financial literacy, ICT, legal knowledge, leadership, life planning, and cooperative education. He also encouraged schools to promote student investment clubs, holiday internships, and business incubators.
“We must teach students to grow what they eat,” he said. “School farms and agribusiness programmes can support food security and self-sufficiency.”
In the medical field, he listed key needs: honest professionals, long-term investors, flexible funding models, and strong governance.
He challenged academics to rethink their roles. “Nigeria has over 275 universities and many professors, yet little national progress,” he said. “We must leave the ivory tower mindset behind.”
Onyishi said universities must become innovation hubs. He believes this is the only way education can truly drive development.
“The future university must be entrepreneurial,” he added. “We must act now, especially in health and related sectors.”
