Zulum: Nigerian graduates lack skills to compete in labour market

Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum, says most of the graduates produced by universities across the country lack the capacity to compete in terms of skills for the highly competing requirements of the labour market.

Zulum said this while delivering a lecture to mark the 75th anniversary of the University of Ibadan (UI) on Monday.

The governor, who delved into the prevailing challenge of graduates experiencing a mismatch between their acquired skills and the requirements of the labour market, also highlighted the implications of this mismatch, including high unemployment rates, underemployment, and reduced productivity.

He stressed that addressing this issue is crucial for sustainable economic growth and the reduction of poverty in Nigeria.

Governor Zulum further emphasised the importance of universities in shaping the future workforce of the country and the need for their continuous adaptation to meet the demands of the evolving labour market.

Zulum said: “Our universities need to do more in the area of research and linking research to industries that can translate ideas into solutions that can be sold within and outside the shores of our nation.

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“We must consider restructuring our university system to become centres of production of ideas and solutions that can attract industrial-scale investments.”

The governor cited the rapid technological advancements, changing industry needs, and the inadequacy of curricula in many tertiary institutions.

He however stressed the significance of practical skills, such as entrepreneurship and vocational training in empowering graduates and those who could not attend formal education to navigate the labour market successfully.

Drawing from his experiences in Borno State, Governor Zulum noted that to address the problems of unemployment and youth restlessness, his administration has built five new mega-size Vocational Training Institutes alongside 19 smaller Technical and Vocational Training Institutes across the state in five years.

Zulum also challenged Nigerians to imbibe the spirit of patriotism while holding those in the position of leadership accountable.

“I want to encourage the citizens of this great country that while things take time, we all have a responsibility to show leadership in whichever sphere,” Zulum added.

Also speaking at the event, the UI Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Kayode Adebowale, commended Zulum for his stride and for identifying with the university.

The Star