Nigeria's mathematics crisis has less to do with the subject itself and more to do with how it is being taught, according to the newly appointed Vice Chancellor of the Federal University, Otuoke (FUO), Bayelsa State, who says poor welfare and inadequate funding are the real obstacles standing between Nigerian Students and competence in STEM.
Professor Promise Mebine, who spent nearly five years as Chief Executive Officer of the National Mathematical Centre (NMC) before his appointment to FUO, said the fear most Nigerian students have of mathematics is a product of poor teaching methods rather than any lack of ability. He pointed to Nigeria's performance at International Mathematics Competitions as evidence. "Out of eight gold medals meant for the best countries, Nigeria got one in our last outing. This means that we are not bad, just that we are not doing certain things right," he said.
The core problem, he argued, is that the professionals are underpaid. "Because their remuneration is very poor, they complement teaching with trade to survive. They just hold one or two classes and go to their business." He called for improved welfare, regular capacity training, and better funding for education at all levels.
On artificial intelligence and its role in mathematics learning, Mebine offered a measured position. He said AI is a useful tool, but one that students are misusing by accepting its outputs without critical engagement. "AI picks things that are already done for you to refine, but most people don't bother to refine information obtained through AI," he said, warning that without foundational understanding, Students cannot properly interrogate or apply what AI produces.
Before leaving the NMC, Mebine disclosed that he had long advocated for the centre to be converted into a specialised National University of Mathematical Sciences, a proposal he said had passed its First Reading at the National Assembly. He expressed concern that without sustained commitment from whoever succeeds him, the Institutional gains made during his tenure could be lost.
As Vice Chancellor of FUO, Mebine said his priorities centre on producing graduates who are intellectually equipped and practically useful. "Today, if you interview some students during convocation ceremonies, you will be shocked that many of them don't even know what they studied," he said. His vision for FUO is built around academic excellence, research with real community impact, and graduates who can identify and solve problems within their local environments rather than simply collecting certificates.
