Minister for Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, has restated the need for practical skill acquisition among Nigerian youths, saying academic certificates alone are no longer sufficient in today’s labour market.
- +Minister urges stronger focus on skills, says certificates no longer enough
He made the remarks on Friday during Channels Television’s Youth Forum 2026, where he said many young Nigerians pursue higher education primarily to obtain degrees without developing the practical competencies needed for work.
He made the remarks on Friday during Channels Television’s Youth Forum 2026, where he said many young Nigerians pursue higher education primarily to obtain degrees without developing the practical competencies needed for work.
“One of the things I have always emphasised is skill development. Certificates alone may not be what is needed.
“You would discover that a lot of people going to school today are just going to school to become graduates. The skill gap should be addressed at the root of the matter,” Channels TV quoted Olawande to have said.
The minister also expressed concern over what he described as unrealistic salary expectations among some graduates, linking the trend to poor career guidance and limited exposure to entrepreneurship and vocational training.
“I was watching before the programme (Channels Television’s Youth Forum 2026) started, and some youths were asked how much they would like to receive as a salary after graduation. I saw some say ₦1 and another say ₦3 million,” he said.
“When you ask them how they intend to earn that money, and they say through the civil service, then you understand why skill development is important,” he added.
Olawande identified limited access to education as one of the key challenges facing Nigerian youths, while commending the Federal Government’s Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFund) initiative for expanding access to higher education.
“One of the major problems youths face in this country is access to education for those who genuinely want to be educated,” he said.
“NELFund is one initiative that has impacted Nigeria positively. No student should drop out of school again because he or she cannot afford to pay school fees.”
He also highlighted the adjustment challenges many young people face after graduation and during the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), particularly those transitioning from informal sectors.
Olawande said he remained optimistic about the capacity of Nigerian youths, insisting they have the potential to contribute meaningfully to national development if properly engaged.
“I strongly believe that Nigerian youths are not the problem. They have the spirit, and they have the solutions, provided they are engaged properly,” he said.
