The problem of graduate unemployment has been a major crisis in the country over 3 decades now. Once read somewhere “Nigeria’s future prosperity depends on producing children who are well prepared to take their place in tomorrow’s global society”. The University as an ivory tower is set up by government of nations, private and cooperate individuals to give her citizens the ability to think critically, in order to contribute meaningfully to the growth of their various Nation. These students now graduate without getting job, so how do they make meaningful contribution or take their rightful place in tomorrow’s global society.
These prolong issue of graduate unemployment, bring to mind, what are the higher institution doing to make this one’s ready for the labour market. I have identified four (4) factors responsible for the graduate unemployment in Nigeria.
1. Drop in the standard of education
There have been a drastic drop in the standard of education in Nigeria, people are now concerned with paper, no practical knowledge. Facilities and infrastructures needed on our campuses are not available or inadequate, issues of examination malpractice is also causing great havoc. Believe if government and private individuals can help to improve infrastructure on our campuses and students get serious, reducing examination malpractice; our universities will produce, graduate that can fit well into companies and multinationals.
2. Lack of Skills (Entrepreneurship skills)
Most Nigerian graduate leaves schools with no skills, they cannot create jobs, they lack needed skills by multinationals and big time companies. Thanks to organization like SIFE (Student in Free Enterprise);is a part of worldwide organization, a non-profit organization working through a strong and growing network of Universities in Nigeria teaching entrepreneurship, business and success skills to students through experiential learning formats. Students design world class projects for the benefit of their host community and campus, they source for funds to run such projects themselves. Believe it is a good thing that has happened on our campuses for a long time, and it will go a long way in reducing issue of graduate unemployment.
3. Poor State of the Nation’s Economy
The Nigerian economy has not been stable for every long time, due to inflection and over dependency on petroleum and unstable government policies. Believe if the nation’s economy is stabilized and diversified from petroleum, to other sectors like agriculture, which can release labour and materials to develop our economy, and the issue of electricity solved, it is only then that the issue of graduate unemployment will reduce.
4. Technological advancement
The issue of technological advancement is also of concern to the problem of graduate unemployment, most graduate are not IT compliant and modern businesses and jobs are on the HI-tech level. There is also the problem of automating out of existence some job opportunities, for example the bank sector needs less of tellers and staffs, with advancement on electronic banking.
In summary the problem of graduate unemployment has caused the country great loss, and puts our future on a shaky ground because the children that are to take their place in the future economy of nations or contribute to the growth of homemade technology, lacks the needed skills or do not have a conducive working environment; all hope is not lost, entrepreneurship should be taught at all levels of our education, preparing students for the wide world, so that graduate begins to create jobs and not seek jobs and government should create enabling environment, if all these is done, the issue of graduate unemployment will be a by-gone issue.
