The Chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission, Prof. Tunji Olaopa, has called on political science scholars to make their discipline more responsive to the realities and challenges of contemporary society.
Olaopa made the call on Wednesday while chairing the opening ceremony of the 35th Conference of the Nigerian Political Science Association (NPSA) at the University of Ibadan. The conference continues on Thursday.
Among the distinguished scholars present were the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Prof. Kayode O. Adebowale, who declared the conference open; NPSA President, Prof. Hassan A. Saliu, who delivered the state-of-the-nation address; Professors Emeriti John Ayoade and Bayo Adekanye and the Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Prof. Benjamin O. Ehigie.
Others include; Head of the Department of Political Science, Prof. D. A. Yagboyaju, who delivered the welcome address; Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research (NISER), Prof. Taiye Okoisi-Simbine; and Professors Bayo Okunade and Remi Aiyede.
According to Olaopa, there is an urgent need to rebrand political science scholarship in ways that make it more public-facing, accessible and relevant to politicians, policymakers and other stakeholders.
He said such efforts must go beyond the traditional town-and-gown relationship and foster deeper collaborations that enable the co-production of political and policy knowledge.
“Such synergy enables the political science community to engage in collaborations with civil society organisations, grassroots movements, NGOs and other non-state actors in designing research frameworks and curriculum content for a shared understanding of the discipline’s status, direction, relevance and legitimacy,” he said.
Speaking on the need to adapt political science curricula and teaching methods to emerging realities such as artificial intelligence (AI), Olaopa noted that AI is increasingly reshaping research, pedagogy and the practical application of scholarly work.
“AI today is increasingly challenging the way we conceive research, pedagogy and the implications of research for praxis. There is also the challenge of ensuring that political science education enables students and graduates to transition effectively from theoretical instruction to work-integrated learning,” he said.
He argued that political science curricula should incorporate practical and real-world skills that would better prepare graduates for careers in public service, non-governmental organisations, think tanks, political consulting and the private sector.
According to him, this would require innovative teaching approaches, including internships, scenario-based learning, multidisciplinary case studies and service-learning programmes that provide students with hands-on experience, mentorship and exposure to workplace dynamics.
“These are critical challenges that the NPSA must address as a key gatekeeper in the long-term effort to make the discipline more relevant and accessible for understanding and addressing the post-colonial challenges of the Nigerian state,” he said.
Olaopa recalled that when he spoke at the 60th anniversary of the Department of Political Science at the University of Ibadan in June 2015, he lamented the state of the discipline. He, however, noted that significant progress had since been made in repositioning and strengthening the association through several enduring initiatives.
Nevertheless, he stressed the need for senior scholars gathered at the conference to confront critical issues affecting the profession and prepare it for future generations of political scientists.
According to him, such efforts would strengthen the discipline’s capacity to provide expert guidance and practical solutions to the challenges confronting the Nigerian state.
He also stressed the need to rescue political science from excessive theoretical preoccupations and its growing detachment from everyday realities, particularly at a time when many Nigerians are grappling with poverty, insecurity and unemployment.
“Like many scholarly disciplines in the contemporary world, political science faces the real and undeniable challenge of silo mentality and ivory-tower isolation. This is compounded by increasing hyper-specialisation, which distances the discipline from the practical realities affecting millions of Nigerians struggling with insecurity, poverty, unemployment and other existential challenges,” he said.
Olaopa noted that many ordinary Nigerians have little interest in the discipline’s increasingly sophisticated concepts and methodologies if they do not translate into solutions to pressing societal problems.
“As political science methodologies become more data-driven and theoretically rigorous, the relevance gap continues to widen. This affects not only opportunities for transdisciplinary engagement but also the discipline’s capacity to contribute meaningfully to governance and public policy. Addressing these shortcomings requires intentional leadership from the political science community and its professional association,” he added.
While commending the conference theme, “26 Years of Democracy in Nigeria: Reflections on Praxis and Challenges,” Olaopa described it as timely and significant.
He said Nigeria’s democratic journey since 1999 requires continuous reflection and engagement, particularly from the NPSA, given its role as a community of scholars and practitioners committed to advancing the Nigerian state.
Reflecting on Nigeria’s democratic experience, Olaopa posed what he described as a fundamental question: “What is the cogent foundation upon which democratic governance can be consolidated in a plural society like Nigeria?”
He argued that democratic consolidation would remain elusive without a clear national vision and a shared understanding of the kind of nation Nigeria aspires to become.
According to him, politicians and political scientists must work together as a community of thinkers committed to advancing Nigeria’s national ideals.
“The key question is: what ideological foundation should underpin the politics deployed by Nigeria’s political class for governance purposes? This is a crucial issue as the nation’s political environment gradually begins to heat up ahead of the 2027 general elections,” he said.
