Degrees alone can’t solve unemployment, Nigeria needs skill-based education — Ex-transportation minister

Former Minister of Transportation, Mu’azu Jaji Sambo, has cautioned that Nigeria risks a deepening socio-economic crisis unless it prioritises skills acquisition alongside academic education.

Speaking at the 2025 Impact Forum hosted by the Uwais Maiwada Aid Foundation (UMAF) in Abuja, Sambo said the country’s ballooning youth population and limited job opportunities make it urgent to shift focus from degrees to practical skills.

“With over 10% of our youth neither in school, employment, nor training, we are sitting on a socio-economic time bomb,” Sambo warned. “A 3.13% GDP growth in Q1 doesn’t match the scale of the unemployment challenge we face.”

He called for an overhaul of Nigeria’s education system to integrate practical competencies such as digital literacy, artificial intelligence, and entrepreneurship into school curricula. “Degrees lay the foundation, but it’s skills that drive execution,” he said.

Sambo also urged a cultural shift to place equal value on vocational training and academic qualifications. He cited models from Germany, South Korea, and Singapore where technical education has effectively reduced youth unemployment.

“Our youth must find dignity in craftsmanship and skills, not just in certificates,” he said.

UMAF Executive Director, Uwais Abdullahi Maiwada, echoed the call, stating that Nigeria’s current education model fails to equip students for the job market. “We need a system that helps young people become job creators, not just job seekers,” he said.

Maiwada added that financial barriers and lack of infrastructure prevent many students from pursuing technical skills, noting UMAF’s ongoing efforts to bridge the gap through advocacy, workshops, and school library projects.

Also speaking at the event, former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, highlighted the threat posed by Nigeria’s growing number of out-of-school children.

“Insecurity, poverty, and ignorance continue to drive up these numbers. It’s no longer just a regional concern — it’s a national emergency,” Sylva said, warning that failure to invest in human capital could undermine national unity.

The forum concluded with a collective call for immediate reforms in education and youth empowerment to prevent long-term socio-economic instability.