The widening skills gap in Nigeria is contributing to high unemployment rates, with many job seekers lacking essential skills. Despite numerous job vacancies, employers struggle to find qualified candidates, highlighting a disconnect between education and industry demands. Urgent reforms are necessary to align skills training with market needs, while successful initiatives show potential for future improvement.
In 2023, a manufacturing company in Lagos struggled to find two chemical ecologists for over six months. Despite extensive searches through universities and polytechnics, they ultimately had to import the skills from India. Numerous Nigerians remain unemployed due to a lack of the requisite skills demanded by the industry.
The 2025 Lagos Economic Development Update reveals a paradox; although monthly labor demand indicates 2,837 job vacancies, 3,318 job seekers exist. Yet, 26 percent of these job seekers lack both education and experience, limiting employable candidates to 2,502. The report illustrates an overwhelming influx of jobseekers, yet employers report difficulty in locating appropriately qualified applicants to fill critical roles.
According to the National Bureau of Statistics, Nigeria’s unemployment rate was 4.3 percent in the second quarter of 2024, a significant decrease from 33.3 percent in 2021. Nonetheless, experts contend that underemployment and informal work overshadow the actual joblessness reality, with the World Bank reporting that 23 million Nigerians were either unemployed or underemployed in 2023, predominantly affecting youth. Furthermore, a Jobberman Foundation report indicates that six out of ten Nigerian graduates lack the necessary job skills.
While sectors such as technology and renewable energy face acute shortages of qualified professionals, companies are increasingly compelled to recruit from abroad or invest heavily in employee training to fill these gaps. Michael Olaniyi, a 28-year-old Business Administration graduate, illustrates the frustrating reality many face: having applied for over 200 positions, he consistently encounters resistance due to a lack of experience and skills.
Despite some private institutions enhancing their curriculum to include practical skills, Nigeria’s overall educational framework remains outdated, focusing insufficiently on practical or digital skills. Many young individuals continue to regard traditional degrees as the primary pathway to success, overlooking vocational and technical education critical for sectors such as construction, automotive technology, and renewable energy.
Countries like Germany and China demonstrate success in reducing unemployment through strengthened technical education, a strategy yet to be effectively implemented in Nigeria. The private sector’s limited engagement in academic curriculum development exacerbates the disconnect between education and industry needs. Aisha Bello, an education consultant, emphasizes the need for partnerships between companies and universities to facilitate more internships and hands-on training opportunities.
Digital skills training programs are available but unaffordable for many; typical coding boot camps range from N200,000 to N1 million. Government initiatives are either scarce or lack quality, resulting in self-education as a common alternative for many aspiring professionals. Ofem Igot, an associate professor of educational management, warns that persistent skills gaps could lead to dire consequences, including increased youth unemployment leading to crime, social unrest, and migration in search of opportunities abroad.
The significant outflow of skilled professionals in the ongoing brain drain, particularly to the UK, Canada, and the US, has intensified the domestic talent shortages. Analysts caution that Nigeria risks falling behind during the Fourth Industrial Revolution without urgent educational reforms. To remain competitive in sectors like digital finance, artificial intelligence, and green energy, Nigeria must revamp its educational strategies, incorporating practical, digital, and entrepreneurial training.
Despite these challenges, some efforts show promise. The National Digital Economy Policy aims to train one million Nigerians in digital skills, while private initiatives like the Microsoft Africa Development Center and Google’s Digital Skills for Africa are addressing the skills gap. However, these efforts are insufficient to meet the vast demand for skilled professionals. For individuals like Michael Olaniyi, achieving gainful employment appears elusive, yet with strategic policies and collaborative initiatives, Nigeria could ultimately equip its workforce for current and future job markets.
The skills gap in Nigeria continues to prevent many individuals from gaining employment, despite the availability of job vacancies. Critical mismatches between educational outcomes and industry needs result in an oversupply of jobseekers lacking essential skills. Urgent reforms in the education system are necessary to align academic offerings with market demands, integrating practical skills training. While some initiatives demonstrate potential, further collective efforts between private and public sectors are essential to address these pressing challenges and equip the workforce appropriately.
Original Source: businessday.ng
