Every year, Nigeria’s universities, polytechnics, and colleges release thousands of graduates into the labour market. Decades ago, these young professionals were hot commodities — courted by both government and private firms with attractive job offers even before graduation. But today, that pipeline of opportunity has collapsed.
It is no longer just a weak economy shutting down industries and limiting new jobs. A more painful truth lies beneath: too many graduates are leaving school ill-equipped for the modern workplace. Employers say the gap is less about certificates and more about skills — a verdict that has thrown the issue of graduate unemployability into sharp focus.
A Roundtable That Asked the Hard Questions
At the recent Business Leadership Roundtable hosted by the Nubian American Advanced College (NAAC), stakeholders from academia and industry gathered to confront this crisis head-on. The theme, “Realigning Tertiary Education for Nigeria’s Growth and Sustainable Development,” captured a growing consensus: education must shift from theory-heavy learning to career-ready training.
Dr. Azhinoto Ozodio Ikpah, Chief Promoter of NAAC and Chairman of the Nubian Group, delivered a pointed message. He argued that education must serve as the connective tissue between industry and society. “The products of our tertiary institutions should meet the standards of the businesses they are meant to serve,” he said, stressing that curriculum design must reflect the real needs of the economy, not just outdated academic ideals.
NAAC, he added, is committed to asking employers directly why graduates are considered “unfit” and using that feedback to close the gap between classroom teaching and workplace demands.
From Paper Certificates to Practical Minds
Prof. Patrick Oyinkari, Provost of NAAC, echoed this sentiment with a sharper edge: paper qualifications alone don’t create employable graduates. The college, he explained, was built on the principle that education should produce innovators, not just degree holders. Drawing from the American model, NAAC places heavy emphasis on practical training, entrepreneurship, and the use of technology to rewire how students think and create.
He described the school’s vision as raising “champions” — graduates who can launch businesses, engineer solutions, and compete confidently in a global economy. NAAC has already begun deploying digital tools, critical thinking programs, and entrepreneurship labs designed to transform students into problem-solvers rather than passive job seekers.
Industry as Co-Teacher
For the event’s chairman, Venerable Kiri Wakama, the solution is impossible without industry’s direct involvement. He distinguished between unemployment (lack of jobs) and unemployability (lack of skills) and made a bold case for co-ownership of education.
“When businesses co-design curricula, they ensure students graduate with skills relevant to the tools, technologies, and challenges of today,” Wakama said. He called for tighter partnerships that deliver internships, mentorships, and workplace exposure — bridges that help students walk straight from lecture halls into careers.
Wakama also pushed for a global perspective: student and faculty exchanges, joint research with foreign universities, and aligning curricula with international standards. Such steps, he argued, would not only produce globally competitive graduates but also elevate Nigeria’s tertiary institutions in global rankings, attracting partnerships, investment, and credibility.
The Bigger Picture
Other speakers, including representatives from the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) and the Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA), reinforced the same message: fixing employability requires a collaborative overhaul. Banks, regulators, industries, and schools must work together to harmonize training with workforce needs.
Why This Matters
Nigeria does not lack talent or ambition. What it lacks is alignment. Until education is treated as a living partnership with industry — not a paper chase — the country will keep producing graduates who struggle to find their footing.
The roundtable ended with a challenge: if Nigeria wants its next generation to drive growth and innovation, it must reimagine tertiary education as a launchpad for relevance, resilience, and real-world impact.
