The National Universities Commission (NUC) and the Commonwealth of Learning (COL) in Vancouver, Canada, are collaborating to improve employability of Nigerian graduates and skill development.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of a 3- day workshop organised by both bodies yesterday in Abuja with the theme; ‘Graduate Employability Strategies and Framework,” the NUC Acting Executive Secretary, Chris Maiyaki, said there was a prevailing skills gap among Nigerian graduates.
Maiyaki, who explained that the workshop was aimed at facilitating the development and implementation of a national framework and strategies of graduate employability for higher education in the country, said there was an urgent need to build a promising employment ecosystem.
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He acknowledged the skills gap and mismatch in the country and expressed hope that a multi-stakeholder approach would create a more effective employability ecosystem.
The Acting NUC Executive Secretary, noted that in 2005, the Commission conducted a needs assessment survey across Nigeria’s 6 geopolitical zones to measure the extent of the skills gap.
According to him, a committee, led by Prof. Peter Okebukola, was later formed to align NUC’s strategies with its strategic plan.
“The committee identified several challenges, including the issue of graduate employability, poor graduate quality, and deficiencies in skills development and entrepreneurship education.
“In response, the NUC established a Skills Development and Advisory Committee in 2018 to tackle these challenges, drawing on subject matter experts, professionals, and regulatory bodies from both the public and private sectors.
“The commission has since developed the Core Curriculum Minimum Academic Standards (CCMAS) to address employability and entrepreneurial skills.
“Universities now have the flexibility to design 30 percent of their curriculum to reflect their unique environments,” he said.
Also speaking, the Higher Education Adviser at COL, Prof. Jane-Frances Agbu, expressed worry at the increasing complexities in the world of work, particularly the issue of skill mismatches.
She pointed out that unlike in the 1980s, when a university degree almost guaranteed a white-collar job in Nigeria, today’s job market requires more than just a degree.
“Graduate employability is now a growing concern for educational institutions worldwide,” she added.