Nigeria's skills crisis: 270 universities but a shortage of skilled labor
via Punch Nigeria4 min read
Nigeria, with 270 universities, 150 polytechnics, and nearly two million undergraduates, faces a significant skills crisis. Annually, 600,000 graduates enter a labor market unable to absorb them, while manufacturers in Aba and Nnewi struggle to find machinists, technicians, and fabricators. Alex Onyia, CEO of Educare, highlights that Nigeria has degrees but lacks sufficient skills. He proposes adopting Germany's Ausbildung model, which involves paid apprenticeships where young individuals train within factories, often earning more than degree holders. This model, which over half of German youth participate in, contrasts with Nigeria's system that prioritizes lecture halls. Onyia plans to initiate this program in the South-East, a region known for its indigenous manufacturers but lacking structure, certification, and prestige for technical work. The current educational system is criticized for focusing on exams over practical skills, with polytechnics and colleges of education, originally intended to produce technicians, now functioning as "degree mills." The National Bureau of Statistics' 2023 unemployment figure of 5.4 percent 4.8 million Nigerians is questioned, as it includes individuals working as little as one hour a week, masking widespread underemployment among graduates. Onyia's plan aims to bridge the gap between learning and production, turning skills into economic growth. For this apprenticeship model to succeed, three key changes are necessary: reliable electricit
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Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen returned from an arm injury for Galatasaray, featuring late in their 2-0 Turkish Cup quarter-final loss to Genclerbirligi. Osimhen, who had missed four matches, entered in the 78th minute, replacing Renato Nhaga, but could not alter the outcome. Genclerbirligi scored in the 51st minute through Firatcan Uzum and sealed their victory in the 83rd minute with a goal from Adama Traore. The defeat ended Galatasaray's 10-match unbeaten streak in the competition. Attention now shifts to a league fixture against Fenerbahce, where Osimhen is anticipated to play a more significant role.
Arsenal are reportedly leading the pursuit to sign Rangers center-back Emmanuel Fernandez, with a potential summer transfer valued at up to £35 million. The Nigerian defender, who initially had a slow start after joining Rangers from Peterborough United, has become a key player under head coach Danny Röhl, earning a spot in the PFA Team of the Season. The 24-year-old has impressed with six goals and strong defensive statistics, including winning 69 percent of his defensive duels. TEAMtalk reports that Arsenal is closely monitoring the 6ft 5in defender for potential reinforcements to their defensive line. However, Arsenal faces significant competition from other Premier League clubs such as Chelsea, West Ham United, and Everton. European clubs including Borussia Dortmund, Bayer Leverkusen, Ajax, Feyenoord, and Club Brugge are also tracking Fernandez. Rangers are preparing for substantial interest and are expected to demand between £25 million and £35 million for Fernandez, who still has three years remaining on his contract. Fernandez's statistics highlight his composure in possession with an 87.6 percent passing accuracy and a 68.8 percent dribbling success rate, alongside strong defensive contributions. Despite Arsenal's interest, competition for playing time with established defenders like William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhães, as well as other defensive options, means Fernandez will likely consider regular playing time as a key factor in his decision.
Must ReadThe Federal Government of Nigeria aims to nearly double its livestock industry to $74 billion by 2035, up from its current value of approximately $32 billion. This initiative is part of a broader strategy to transform agriculture, enhance food security, and stabilize the economy. The plan was presented at the ninth Vanguard Economic Discourse in Lagos by Eustace Iyayi, Special Adviser to the Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Maiha. Agriculture contributes 24 to 26 percent of Nigeria's GDP and employs up to 40 percent of its workforce, yet the country faces persistent food insecurity, with over 25 million people at risk of acute food insecurity and food inflation exceeding 30 percent. The livestock sector, which accounts for five to eight percent of GDP and about a third of agricultural output, is seen as crucial for addressing protein deficiency, as average per capita animal protein consumption is 7 to 10 grams per day, below the recommended 20 grams. Despite having a large livestock population, Nigeria faces low productivity due to issues in feed availability, genetics, animal health systems, and market infrastructure. The government's reform agenda includes improving feed and fodder systems, strengthening animal health services, expanding access to finance, and investing in data and infrastructure. Iyayi emphasized the need for affordable financing for farmers, advocating for single-digit interest rates, and highlighted the importance of improving security in farming c
Stakeholders from government institutions, traditional councils, civil society organizations, and the media gathered in Kaduna to develop strategies for addressing gender-based violence in Nigeria's North-West region. The dialogue, organized by the Centre for Information Technology and Development, aimed to move beyond rhetoric and focus on actionable solutions. Kamal Garba-Hassan, a representative of the organization, stated that the initiative is being implemented regionally, with the current phase covering Jigawa, Kaduna, and Kano states. He identified weak enforcement of existing laws, socio-economic challenges, and declining societal values as major drivers of gender-based violence. Garba-Hassan emphasized the need for strict and impartial law enforcement, free from interference by influential individuals. Participant Sarah Shekari highlighted the timeliness of the intervention, calling for stronger institutions, improved policy enforcement, and sustained collaboration to combat the rising cases of gender-based violence, which affects over 90% women and manifests in sexual, physical, emotional, economic, and digital forms. Participants expressed optimism that ongoing engagement would help reduce incidents and improve accountability.