Skills Development Crucial to Combat Nigeria's Unemployment

During the 131st Inaugural Lecture at the Federal University of Technology, Minna, on the topic “The Marriage Between TVET and Job Creation: Let No Man Put Asunder,” Prof. Emmanuel Raymond emphasized the necessity for Nigerian graduates to develop practical skills to address the country's unemployment crisis.

He argued that universities should focus on producing graduates equipped with vocational skills that enable self-reliance and job creation. Raymond urged graduates to embrace Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) as a viable solution to unemployment, stating that neglecting this area would result in graduates unprepared for the labor market.

He used a marriage analogy to describe the relationship between TVET and job creation, asserting that a skilled workforce is essential for effective job creation efforts. Prof.

Adamu Kuta, Vice Chancellor of FUT Minna, supported Raymond's views, linking unemployment to broader issues of insecurity and social vices in Nigeria.