Stop Producing Unemployable Graduates, Akande Urges Universities
Former Governor of Osun State, Chief Adebisi Akande, has called on Nigerian universities to prioritize skills acquisition in their curricula to ensure that graduates can contribute effectively to the economy.
Akande made this remark at his residence in Ila-Orangun, Osun State, during a visit by the Vice Chancellor of Ekiti State University (EKSU), Prof. Babatola Ayodele, and other principal officers. He emphasized the need for a paradigm shift in Nigeria’s educational system.
“If you want global competition, you can’t wait. Universities should avoid producing graduates who cannot add value to the economy,” Akande stated.
He cautioned against awarding degrees without equipping students with the necessary skills for national growth and economic development.
“Going to school is not work, but the beginning of learning how to work,” Akande added, stressing the need for universities to adapt to global competitiveness to avoid being left behind.
The APC stalwart praised EKSU’s recent recognition as the best state university in Nigeria by Times Higher Education, attributing the success to strong leadership at the university.
Prof. Ayodele, who led the delegation, noted that the visit was an opportunity to seek advice from the elder statesman. He expressed gratitude for Akande’s warm reception and highlighted EKSU’s commitment to producing well-rounded graduates.
“No student graduates from the university without acquiring relevant skills in one vocation or another. This prepares them for profitable engagements after graduation, instead of searching for white-collar jobs,” said the Vice Chancellor.
Akande, an alumnus of EKSU, commended the university’s management for its efforts in maintaining a focus on qualitative and skills-based education. He urged other Nigerian universities to emulate EKSU, calling for a comprehensive transformation of the educational sector to meet global standards.
