Nigerian universities urged to prioritize skills development to combat unemployment
Professor Emmanuel Raymond of the Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger State, has advocated for universities to focus on developing practical skills in graduates to address Nigeria's unemployment crisis. During the 131st Inaugural Lecture at FUT Minna, titled "The Marriage Between TVET and Job Creation: Let No Man Put Asunder," Professor Raymond emphasized that Technical and Vocational Education and Training TVET equips individuals with the necessary knowledge and skills for employment and sustainable livelihoods. He urged Nigerian graduates to embrace TVET as a path to self-reliance and a solution to rising unemployment, stating that job creation efforts are ineffective without a skilled workforce aligned with industry needs. Neglecting TVET, he warned, would continue to produce graduates unprepared for the labor market, undermining national job creation initiatives. Professor Adamu Kuta, the Vice Chancellor of FUT Minna, echoed these sentiments, highlighting that unemployment is a root cause of insecurity and other social vices in the country. He expressed hope that such lectures would inspire young people to shift their orientation from being job seekers to job creators.
