DThe House of Representatives has endorsed the review of Nigeria’s National Blockchain Education Programme curriculum, with a call for greater emphasis on practical skills, cybersecurity and regulatory compliance to prepare Nigerians for opportunities in the digital economy.
The Chairman of the House Committee on Delegated Legislation, Richard Bamisile, made this known in Abuja on Wednesday during the flag-off of the curriculum review meeting organised by the Blockchain Adoption Initiative in collaboration with the African University of Science and Technology, Baze University and Nile University of Nigeria.
Bamisile said blockchain education was critical to Nigeria’s technological advancement, economic competitiveness and capacity to develop home-grown digital solutions.
“The future belongs to nations that do not merely consume technology, but possess the knowledge to create it, the wisdom to govern it and the vision to use it for national development,” he said.
He noted that blockchain technology had applications beyond cryptocurrency, including financial services, agriculture, supply-chain management, digital identity and secure record-keeping.
However, he said Nigeria could only maximise these opportunities through deliberate investment in education, practical skills development, responsible innovation and effective regulation.
The lawmaker explained that his experience as chairman of the House ad hoc committee on the economic, security and regulatory implications of cryptocurrency adoption and Point-of-Sale operations in Nigeria had reinforced the need for public education and regulatory preparedness.
He disclosed that promoting blockchain education was among the recommendations of the committee, stressing that greater public understanding of emerging technologies would help Nigerians appreciate their economic potential and associated risks.
“As chairman of the House Committee on Delegated Legislation, I recognise the complementary importance of ensuring that subsidiary legislation is lawful, effective and responsive to technological change. Education helps us understand innovation; sound regulation ensures that innovation serves the public interest,” Bamisile added.
He urged stakeholders to ensure that the revised curriculum went beyond theoretical instruction to incorporate hands-on training, cybersecurity, regulatory compliance and other professional competencies required by the industry.
According to him, the programme should equip young Nigerians to become innovators, entrepreneurs and problem-solvers capable of developing solutions for local challenges and competing in the global digital economy.
“Let us build the knowledge today that will power Nigeria’s innovation tomorrow,” he stressed.
Earlier, the Director of Information and Communication Technology at Baze University, Dr Alhassan Abdulmutalab, recalled that the institution was among the universities invited by the National Information Technology Development Agency in 2023 to contribute to the development of Nigeria’s national blockchain policy.
Abdulmutalab welcomed the collaboration among universities and industry stakeholders, describing the curriculum review as an important step towards establishing a comprehensive framework for blockchain education in the country.
“I remember in 2023, Baze University was invited by NITDA to be part of the universities to develop national blockchain policy. Today, I’m very happy that under your leadership, universities are brought together to develop a robust curriculum,” he said.
He explained that the programme was intended not only for university students but also for Nigerians across different sectors who needed to understand blockchain technology and its practical applications.
Similarly, the Faculty Coordinator for the Continuing Professional Development Programme at AUST, Abuja, Dr Prisca Onuoha-Iroakazi, reaffirmed her institution’s commitment to practical, industry-oriented education.
She welcomed the memorandum of understanding signed with the organisers, expressing optimism that the partnership would produce a curriculum that combines academic instruction with practical experience and industry engagement.
“We hope this curriculum will be reviewed to bring not only theory but hands-on training, in a way that everyone who comes to learn will go and build their own industry. That is what we champion,” she said.
In her presentation, Mrs Janet Oyelade commended Bamisile and relevant regulatory agencies for bringing industry operators and regulators together to address challenges within the blockchain ecosystem.
She recalled that the industry had experienced disagreements between operators and regulators, as well as divisions among stakeholders, noting that engagements with the House committee had provided an opportunity to work towards common solutions.
“The blockchain industry was in a turbulent period. We were having problems with the regulators, and the operators themselves were not together. As you said, when the committee called for us, we came in and we found that we could chart a way forward,” Oyelade said.
She also commended the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit, the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Central Bank of Nigeria for engaging industry stakeholders.
Oyelade said improved education would help blockchain operators address gaps in anti-money laundering compliance, data protection and cybersecurity, while promoting greater understanding between businesses and regulators.
She explained that the Blockchain Adoption Initiative was established to encourage a broader approach to blockchain development rather than limit discussions to virtual assets.
According to her, a comprehensive curriculum would address existing knowledge gaps, promote responsible adoption and help Nigeria explore the technology’s wider applications across different sectors of the economy.
The meeting was attended by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Central Administration, Nile University of Nigeria, Professor Prema Kirubakaran, alongside representatives of regulatory agencies, universities and other stakeholders in the blockchain ecosystem.