A storm is brewing in Nigeria’s education sector. It began when Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, recently declared that the country is producing “too many” social science graduates. He made this statement while presenting licences to 11 new private universities in Abuja. In his view, Nigeria needs fewer social scientists and more “problem-solving” graduates with technical and life skills.
Nevertheless, his comment has sparked outrage among academics and education stakeholders, who say the Minister has completely missed the point.
Professor Chike Okolocha, President of the Social Science Academy of Nigeria (SSAN), did not mince words. “This statement is not based on facts,” he said. “The problem is not the number of social science graduates. It is that the government has failed to provide quality education and jobs for young people.”
Indeed, the Minister gave no statistics to support his claim, nor did he state how many social science graduates are “too many.” Instead, his comment echoes a growing trend: the push for STEMM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medicine) at the expense of the humanities and social sciences.
Across the world, STEMM is seen as the future — the driver of innovation, technology, and modern economies. Moreover, there is no doubt that Nigeria needs more scientists and engineers. Nevertheless, experts warn that neglecting social sciences is a dangerous mistake.
“Nigeria is facing serious social problems — poverty, insecurity, inequality, youth unemployment, gender exclusion,” Prof. Okolocha explained. “These are not problems that technology alone can fix. We need economists, sociologists, political scientists, development experts — people who understand how society works and can guide policies that improve lives.”
A political scientist at the University of Lagos, Dr Amina Oladipo, added that the social sciences are “not just theory.” She said, “We train people who go on to work in government, civil society, research, media, public health, and international development. These are fields that build the foundation for peace and progress.”
Still, some tech-focused professionals argue that Nigeria has tilted too much toward theory and not enough toward practical skills.
“To be honest, I see too many graduates who do not have the skills employers want,” said Olayemi Adeboye, a Lagos-based HR consultant. “But the solution is not to cancel the social sciences. The solution is to improve how we teach and link courses to real-world needs.”
Interestingly, even some social science subjects — such as economics, finance, marketing, and management — are now recognised as part of STEMM. This shows how blurred the line is.
“The truth is that knowledge is not a competition between STEM and social science,” said Prof. Okolocha. “We need both. Solving national problems requires both science and a deep understanding of people, cultures, and systems.”
As Nigeria seeks to reform its education system, the lesson is clear: innovation does not belong solely to science. A truly developed society values all fields of knowledge and uses them together to build a better future.
Leave feedback about this