Over the past few years, I have been deeply engaged in conversations around Nigeria’s engineering education standards — particularly our transition from provisional to full signatory of the Washington Accord through Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) and National Universities Commission (NUC).
I have spoken about it at forums like the 15th Mechanical Engineering Distinguished Lecture (MEDL), and I continue to believe that aligning with global benchmarks in TVET is critical if we are serious about producing world-class engineers.
But the world is changing, and as someone working at the intersection of engineering, AI/ML, and computer vision, I see another equally urgent frontier: computing and IT education.
Much like the Washington Accord for engineering, the Seoul Accord sets international standards for computing and IT-related education. Its signatories include the US, UK, Canada, Korea, Japan, and others who dominate the digital economy. For Nigeria, being part of this Accord is not just a matter of prestige — it’s a matter of strategy.
Here’s why:
• Global Recognition for Nigerian Talent: Our graduates would enjoy internationally recognized qualifications, reducing barriers to global collaboration and leadership.
• Raising Standards at Home: Aligning with the Accord forces us to modernize curricula, integrate industry needs, and close the academia-industry gap that too often leaves students underprepared.
• Future-Proofing Our Workforce: With AI, cybersecurity, and digital infrastructure shaping the future of nations, Nigeria must ensure our workforce is trained to compete and not just to consume.
I have seen firsthand how Nigeria’s brightest minds in AI and engineering thrive when given access to global platforms and standards. The difference isn’t in our talent — it’s in our systems. That’s why I believe NUC in collaboration with Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria (CPN), Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) and industry stakeholders, should immediately begin laying the groundwork for Nigeria’s membership in the Seoul Accord.
This isn’t just about international validation. It’s about ensuring Nigeria has a seat at the table where the future of technology is being defined. If we delay, we risk widening the gap between Nigeria and economies that are already shaping the digital world.
I often remind myself: Nigeria cannot become a leader in the Fourth Industrial Revolution if our educational systems remain locked in the past. The Seoul Accord provides a roadmap for reform and a global community of peers to keep us accountable.
Nigeria has the talent. What we need now is the political will and institutional action to put us where we belong — at the forefront of global tech education and innovation.