A former Dean of Faculty of Economics and Management Sciences at University of Ibadan, Professor Surajudeen Bankole, has challenged the notion that Nigerian graduates are unemployable. He made this declaration at the 2025 NextGen-Ideate cohort graduation, an event aimed at improving the capacity of fresh graduates at the institution. According to Bankole, Nigerian graduates who are often believed to be unemployable are, in fact, excelling and leading their peers in other countries.
Bankole emphasized that the belief held by some employers that the majority of Nigerian graduates are unemployable is incorrect. He noted that the proliferation of higher institutions and the shortage of qualified teachers to staff them may be contributing factors to this misconception. The Don stressed that when people say Nigerian graduates are non-employable, it implies that they cannot be employed at all, which is not the case.
Professor Bankole cited the academic rankings of Nigerian universities as evidence of their quality. He mentioned that many Nigerian universities are highly ranked in Africa and globally, with the University of Ibadan being the top-ranked institution in Nigeria. According to him, this suggests that Nigerian graduates are producing high-quality graduates who are capable of competing globally.
The Professor also emphasized that if Nigerian graduates were truly unemployable, they would not be excelling in other countries and returning to give back to their institutions. He argued that the value they place on their education is a testament to the quality of Nigerian graduates. Bankole called on employers to increase their budgets and invest in training and development, rather than making sweeping generalizations about the employability of Nigerian graduates.
The Programme Director, Dr Tunji Owoseni, also spoke at the event, highlighting the importance of the NextGen-Ideate cohort graduation programme. According to him, the programme is an opportunity to unlock the potential of fresh graduates from the University of Ibadan, providing them with the skills and training needed to succeed in the workforce.
The 2025 NextGen-Ideate cohort graduation is part of a broader effort to improve the employability of Nigerian graduates. The event brought together stakeholders from academia, industry, and government to discuss ways to address the challenges facing fresh graduates in the job market. By providing a platform for graduates to showcase their skills and talents, the programme aims to bridge the gap between academia and industry.
Key stakeholders, including academics, industry leaders, and government officials, are expected to build on the momentum generated by the programme to develop sustainable solutions to the challenges facing Nigerian graduates. With the right support and investment, Nigerian graduates can excel in various fields and contribute to the country's economic growth and development.
Key points
- Nigerian graduates are employable and excelling globally.
- The notion that Nigerian graduates are unemployable is incorrect and may be due to misconceptions about the quality of education in Nigeria.
- Employers need to increase their budgets and invest in training and development to support Nigerian graduates.
