Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum bemoaned the talent disparity among recent Nigerian graduates on Monday.
The governor claims that a significant contributing factor to the nation’s high rate of youth unemployment is the mismatch between the skills graduates acquire and the skills required by the labor market.
Speaking at a lecture to mark the 75th anniversary of the University of Ibadan, the governor—who is also a professor—noted that a significant portion of university graduates across the country do not possess the skills needed to successfully compete in the highly competitive job market.
Zulum delivered the first in a series of lectures organised to commemorate the University of Ibadan’s 75th anniversary, themed: “Leadership, Citizenship, and Meeting Contemporary Social Justice in Nigeria.”
The governor lamented the discrepancy between their education and the demands of the job market.
He also emphasized the negative effects of this mismatch, such as elevated rates of underemployment, high unemployment, and decreased productivity.
Professor Zulum emphasized that resolving this issue is essential to both Nigeria’s poverty reduction and sustainable economic growth.
He stressed the importance of universities in shaping the future workforce of the country and the need for their continuous adaptation to meet the demands of the evolving labour market.
“Our universities need to do more in the area of research and linking research to industries that can translate ideas into solutions that can be sold within and outside the shores of our nation. We must consider restructuring our university system to become centres of production of ideas and solutions that can attract industrial-scale investments,” Zulum said.
The governor mentioned the inadequate curriculum in many postsecondary institutions, the speed at which technology is developing, and the shifting demands of the sector.
But he also emphasized the value of transferable skills in preparing graduates and those unable to attend school for the workforce for success—skills like entrepreneurship and vocational training.
Drawing from his experiences in Borno State, Zulum noted that to address the problems of unemployment and youth restlessness, his administration has built five new mega-size vocational training institutes alongside 19 smaller technical and vocational training institutes across Borno State in five years.
Zulum also challenged citizens to imbibe the spirit of patriotism while holding those in positions of leadership accountable.
“I want to encourage the citizens of this great country that, while things take time, we all have a responsibility to show leadership in whatever sphere,” Zulum said.
During his speech, Prof. Kayode Adebowale, the vice chancellor of the institution and the host, praised the governor for his commitment to the university and his stride.
