A German entrepreneurship scholar has issued a direct challenge to Nigerian Universities, urging them to dismantle theory heavy curricula and replace them with practical, industry linked training that produces job creators rather than graduates dependent on employment.

Prof. Harald von Korflesch of the University of Koblenz delivered the charge on Tuesday in Abuja at a two day international conference on Academic Entrepreneurship, Knowledge and Technology Transfer for Tertiary Institutions in Nigeria, warning that graduate unemployment would persist unless Universities fundamentally rethink how entrepreneurship is taught.

Von Korflesch observed that entrepreneurship courses had become widespread across Nigerian higher Institutions but remained largely disconnected from industry realities, poorly funded, and unable to provide students with hands on business experience.

"Entrepreneurship should not be treated as a routine academic subject but as a professional discipline designed to equip students with the skills, mindset and competencies needed to establish and sustain businesses," he stated.

The scholar questioned how much influence practising entrepreneurs have in shaping these programmes, insisting that professionals with proven business track records must play a greater role in teaching. He advocated for experiential learning, mentorship, innovation projects, and practical training as alternatives to the current model, which he described as excessively theoretical.

With Nigeria's youth population growing rapidly alongside rising graduate unemployment, Von Korflesch described entrepreneurship education as an urgent national necessity, calling on Universities and policymakers to prioritise competencies such as creativity, leadership, risk management, and opportunity identification.

Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission, Prof. Abdullahi Ribadu, represented by NUC Director of Research, Innovation and Information Technology Lawal Faruk, reinforced the argument, stressing that universities must now be assessed not just on teaching and research but on their ability to convert ideas into innovations and knowledge into societal impact.

Ribadu pointed to the Commission's Core Curriculum and Minimum Academic Standards framework as a tool specifically designed to promote competency based education aligned with emerging economic realities.

DAAD Regional Office Programme Officer Komivi Lasmothey and Prof. Marc Kley of the University of Cologne also urged Nigerian institutions to strengthen research and industry linkages and pursue cross border partnerships capable of turning innovative ideas into sustainable ventures.