Okonkwo made the call while delivering the 14th convocation lecture of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, where he argued that education must be more closely aligned with Nigeria’s economic priorities, technological changes and long-term development goals.

In his lecture, titled “Functional Education and the Nigerian Project: Strategic Human Capital Development for National Renewal,” he said the country’s challenge was not simply the availability of education but the need to ensure that graduates acquire skills relevant to the realities of the modern economy.

He maintained that higher institutions should be assessed not only by the number of students they admit or graduate but also by their ability to produce competent professionals, innovators, entrepreneurs and ethical leaders capable of addressing societal challenges.

According to Okonkwo, developments in artificial intelligence, robotics, biotechnology and advanced manufacturing have changed the skills required for economic growth. He said Nigerian graduates must therefore be equipped with technical expertise, digital literacy, problem-solving abilities, entrepreneurial thinking and sound ethical values.

He warned that graduate unemployment, underemployment and the mismatch between educational qualifications and labour-market demands highlighted the need for a stronger connection between classroom learning and practical experience.

Okonkwo said universities should prepare students not only to compete for existing jobs but also to establish businesses, develop new products, generate knowledge and strengthen institutions. He argued that entrepreneurship should be integrated across academic disciplines rather than treated as an optional subject or an activity reserved for business students.

He illustrated this approach by pointing to opportunities for engineering students to commercialise prototypes, agricultural graduates to develop solutions across the agricultural value chain, and computer science students to build digital platforms and artificial intelligence applications that address real-world problems.

The airline executive also called for stronger partnerships among universities, industries and government agencies, stressing that research should lead to practical applications, marketable products and sustainable businesses.

He said higher institutions needed to become centres where scientific discoveries could be translated into innovations, patents developed into commercial ventures, and research findings applied to economic and social development.

Okonkwo further advocated increased investment in Technical and Vocational Education and Training, modern engineering workshops, fabrication laboratories and other facilities that would improve practical learning. He said Nigeria’s industrialisation and economic diversification efforts depended on a steady supply of skilled technicians, technologists and engineering professionals.

He also called for digital literacy and artificial intelligence to be incorporated into programmes across disciplines, noting that technological competence had become essential for effective participation in the modern economy.

Beyond technical and entrepreneurial skills, Okonkwo emphasised the importance of integrity, accountability and responsible leadership. He argued that professional expertise alone could not guarantee national progress without ethical conduct and a commitment to the public good.

He urged universities to produce graduates whose technical abilities were matched by discipline, compassion, integrity and a willingness to contribute positively to society.

As part of the proposed reforms, he recommended competency-based curricula, structured industrial training, stronger industry partnerships, improved innovation infrastructure and a review of university assessment and accreditation practices. He said greater attention should be paid to what students could actually design, build, create, manage and solve.

Using the partnership between United Nigeria Airlines and Afe Babalola University as an example, Okonkwo disclosed that about 20 final-year aeronautical and aerospace engineering students were expected to undertake structured industrial training with the airline each year under a renewable 10-year arrangement.

He said the first group had begun a six-month practical programme at the airline’s engineering facility in Lagos, gaining exposure to aircraft maintenance, avionics, safety procedures and professional aviation practices.

Addressing the graduating students, Okonkwo encouraged them to see their certificates as a foundation for further achievement rather than the final measure of their education. He urged them to demonstrate the value of their learning through innovation, practical problem-solving and meaningful contributions to society.

Reporting by TalkNaija Media