Retool Universities To Solve Problems, Ogbuku Advocates

The Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, has proposed a university system that prioritizes problem-solving over merely awarding degrees.

Delivering the keynote address at the 2nd Convocation Lecture of the Federal University Otuoke in Bayelsa State, Ogbuku reflected on how universities have become more focused on degree-awarding rather than solving practical problems.

According to Seledi Thompson-Wakama, Director of Corporate Affairs, he spoke on the theme: From Degree-Awarding to Problem-Solving Institutions: Retooling University Education for Nation-Building.

The NDDC CEO affirmed that “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”

Ogbuku lamented, “We have built an academic culture where promotion is often tied more to the number of papers published in journals—many of which have minimal relevance to local problems—than to the impact of research on society.”

He expressed concern over the disconnect between universities and the productive sectors of the economy, noting that “employers repeatedly complain that graduates lack critical thinking, creativity, digital skills, and practical experience.”

“We have witnessed a gradual decline in funding and infrastructure in the education sector. A system that is underfunded struggles to be innovative. When laboratories lack basic equipment, libraries are outdated, classrooms are overcrowded, and staff are poorly motivated, the easiest thing for a university to do is to default to theory-heavy, exam-driven education.”

Ogbuku suggested that “we can change this by deliberately incorporating ‘problem-solving content’ into our programs. For instance, every final-year student, regardless of discipline, could be required to undertake a ‘capstone project’ that addresses a real, identified problem in a community, industry, or government institution.”

He stated that “another strategic step is to build and strengthen innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystems within our universities. While many universities, including the Federal University Otuoke (FUO), have initiated entrepreneurship centers, some are treated as peripheral units.”

He highlighted that environmental and climate-related problems in the Niger Delta region are critical issues to address. “We need to tackle oil spills, gas flaring, flooding, biodiversity loss, and land and water degradation,” he said.

Ogbuku noted, “In a world driven by technology, Nigeria cannot afford to be a passive consumer of other nations’ innovations. We must ask ourselves: What can we do to develop local manufacturing capabilities to reduce dependence on imported goods? How can we leverage digital technologies?”

“We need to retool university education for sustainable nation-building. This means redefining the university, in both our laws and practice, as a problem-solving and future-shaping institution.

“To retool, our universities must focus on research and knowledge production. If we are serious about sustainable nation-building, university research must be more than a personal promotion ladder.”

Ogbuku urged the graduating students to view themselves not just as certificate holders but as problem-solvers. “The degree in your hand is not a trophy; it’s a tool.”

“You must embrace the charge to learn and adapt continuously. The world you are entering is changing faster than any generation before yours. Do not treat your degree as the end of your education.”

Discussing developmental challenges, the NDDC leader remarked that the Commission has transitioned from being transactional to a transformational development agency.

He announced that the NDDC had awarded a contract for the construction of a five-kilometer internal road network within the university campus and plans to build a modern convocation arena and a five-star Corpers’ Lodge on-site.

In a personal commitment, Ogbuku pledged to sponsor two professorial chairs at the university—one in honor of his late father and the other for cancer research.

The Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University Otuoke, Professor Teddy Charles Adias, expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for appointing a new Chancellor for one of the country’s youngest federal universities.

He encouraged the graduating students to recognize that their learning must continue beyond university, stating, “Learning never ends.”

The convocation lecture concluded with the installation of Dr. Elaigwu Odogbo Obagaji as the Chancellor of the Federal University Otuoke.