A lecturer of the Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger State, Prof. Emmanuel Raymond has advocated for the development of skills to replace certificates.
Raymond said Nigeria’s unemployment problem could end when universities graduate students with workable skills.
He maintained that universities across the country must focus on producing only graduates who are skilled in vocation that will enable them make a living and even create jobs.
Thus, he urged Nigerian graduates to embrace Technical and Vocational Education and Training as a pathway to self-reliance and a practical solution to the country’s rising unemployment crisis.
Prof Raymond made this call during the 131 Inaugural Lecture of the FUT Minna on the topic: “The Marriage Between TVET and Job Creation: Let No Man Put Asunder,” wherein he stressed that TVET equips individuals with the practical knowledge and technical skills required for gainful employment and sustainable livelihoods.
According to him, “job creation efforts will achieve little without a skilled workforce capable of sustaining them,” noting further that, “skills development must be aligned with industry needs to ensure graduates are employable and able to contribute meaningfully to economic growth.”
The don warned that neglecting technical and vocational education would continue to produce graduates that are ill-prepared for the labour market, thereby undermining national job creation initiatives.
