Growing concerns over Nigeria’s widening skills gap took centre stage in Abuja on Wednesday, as education stakeholders warned that the country risks undermining its industrial ambitions without a radical overhaul of its technical training system.
At a high-level session of the BEAR III Programme convened by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), the Federal Ministry of Education Nigeria acknowledged that current training models are failing to keep pace with the rapidly evolving demands of industry—particularly in agro-processing, a sector seen as critical to job creation and economic diversification.
Director of Technology and Science Education, Mrs. Patricia Ogungbemi, delivered a blunt assessment : Nigeria is producing graduates who are increasingly disconnected from the realities of modern workplaces.
While investments in infrastructure and technology have grown, she warned that the human capacity needed to drive those systems remains weak.
“There is a dangerous mismatch between what is taught and what is required,” she said.
“Machines are evolving, industries are advancing, but the workforce is not keeping up at the same speed.”
Ogungbemi pointed to emerging trends such as automation, smart packaging, and sustainable production systems, noting that many Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions have yet to integrate these realities into their curricula.
She described the ongoing Labour Market Analysis (LMA) as a critical diagnostic tool, but stressed that data alone would not solve the problem without decisive policy action and sustained funding.
“What we are confronting is not just a training issue—it is a structural challenge that affects productivity, competitiveness, and national growth,” she added.
The warning comes amid rising youth unemployment and growing frustration among employers who say graduates often lack practical, job-ready skills.
Stakeholders at the event argued that unless Nigeria urgently retools its education system to prioritise hands-on, industry-driven learning, sectors like agro-processing—despite their vast potential—may struggle to absorb the millions entering the labour market each year.
Kano State Commissioner for Education, Ali Makoda, reinforced the urgency, describing work-based learning as a “non-negotiable pathway” to addressing the crisis.
According to him, states are beginning to recognise that traditional classroom models alone cannot solve unemployment challenges.
“We must embed learning within the workplace,” he said.
“The future of education is not just in classrooms, but in factories, farms, and production lines.”
Makoda said Kano State is scaling up partnerships with industry players to ensure students gain real-world experience before graduation, aligning training with both national development goals and global standards.
Despite these commitments, participants acknowledged persistent obstacles, including underfunded institutions, outdated equipment, and weak collaboration between academia and industry.
They also stressed the need for stronger private sector involvement, arguing that employers must play a more active role in shaping curricula and offering apprenticeship opportunities.
With support from international partners, including the Government of the Republic of Korea, the BEAR III initiative is expected to drive reforms in skills development, particularly in agriculture-linked industries.
However, observers, said the success of such programmes will ultimately depend on Nigeria’s willingness to translate policy discussions into concrete, system-wide change.
As deliberations continue, one message remains clear: without a skilled workforce aligned to industry needs, Nigeria’s economic aspirations may remain out of reach. (vitalnewsngr.com)
