Education and Employability Survey

The National Policy on Education (2004) introduced by the Federal Government of Nigeria states that the importance of tertiary education in Nigeria is to:
– Contribute to national development through high level relevant, manpower training
– Develop and inculcate proper values for the survival of the individual and society
– Develop the intellectual capability of individuals to understand and appreciate their level and external environment
– Acquire both physical and intellectual skills which will enable individuals be self-reliant and useful members of the     society.
– Promote and encourage scholarship and community service
– Forge and cement national unity
– Promote national and international understanding and interaction

In short, the purpose of tertiary education is to prepare young people for the job market; to have sustainable employment by enhancing technical skills and competence in a chosen field, and life skills such as problem solving and analytical skills, effective communication and literacy skills, interpersonal and team skills etc.

Globally, tertiary education is believed to be the core of human resource development. However, the current education system in Nigeria does not appear to be producing graduates with these generic and essential skills; hence the continuous increase in the rate of youth unemployment – 24 million jobs needed over the next ten years to reduce the current unemployment level by half. Large numbers of graduates have continuously been found incapable of meeting up with the employment requirements of the workforce and have thus been unsuccessful in either securing or keeping a job. This employability problem has been described to be as a result of poor funding of tertiary institutions, undue interference by various external entities, outdated curricular, poor and bloated staffing, overcrowding and incompetence in the management of many of our tertiary institutions.

These factors ultimately create a challenge for employers in filling their graduate vacancies, even with the high level of youth unemployment in the country.

By comparing the viewpoints of employers and students, this survey by Phillips Consulting , seeks to determine the effect of the quality of tertiary education on the employability of fresh graduates in Nigeria. It will thus provide insights into the needs of employers and the opinions of students/graduates; identify gaps in the expectations of both groups; discuss challenges and recommend possible solutions…