Prof. Tahir Mamman, the Minister of Education, emphasized the importance of skills development as the key solution to combat the high rate of Unemployment among 75 percent of Nigerian graduates. The Minister shared this insight during a Stakeholders Consultation on National Policy for Skills Development in Abuja, a two-day event organized by the Federal Ministry of Education with support from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Nigeria’s education system faces numerous crises such as high numbers of out-of-school children, low levels of numeracy and literacy, and widespread unemployment among the youth. The majority of unemployed youths in the country are Secondary School graduates, particularly in rural areas.
Mamman reported that a majority of Nigerian students fail to advance from secondary schools to Tertiary Institutions, with a staggering 75 percent not continuing their education. In order to prevent these individuals from becoming idle on the streets, it is crucial for them to acquire skills that will make them valuable employees or even successful entrepreneurs. The minister said it is important to incorporate national values and lifelong skills into the education system. He stressed that cultivating these skills should begin from a young age and continue through all levels of education in order to effectively empower the youth and enable them to connect with society.
Creating strategies for enhancing skills in Nigeria.
Many Nigerians are reportedly facing challenges in finding ways to support themselves due to a lack of qualifications and skills needed in the job market. But with the introduction of a new initiative, students will now receive skill training starting from primary school all the way through secondary education. With this, they will be equipped with skills in craftsmanship, artisanship, coding using digital technology, and a range of other abilities that are found in different industries within our economy.
He mentioned that the stakeholder policy meeting received backing from its development allies. The primary goal is to create strategies for enhancing skills in Nigeria. It is believed that implementing these policies will effectively tackle the problem of out-of-school children in the nation. The groundwork for the policy has been laid, however it requires extensive practical contributions to pinpoint and incorporate the various skills needed for each educational level into the curriculum. The initial stage of the policy is slated for completion by July, with implementation scheduled to commence in September 2024.
NCS has introduced a series of new strategies.
Moreover, Saadhana Panday, the Chief of Education at UNICEF Nigeria, expressed concerns about various issues plaguing the education sector in Nigeria. These include the high number of out-of-school children as well as low levels of numeracy and literacy. Panday emphasized the urgent need to tackle these challenges in order for Nigerian children to be able to compete effectively with their peers. Munamuzunga Sikaulu, the Education Manager at UNICEF, stated that the purpose of the consultation was to discuss the importance of basic reading and math abilities, technological proficiency, adaptable skills for the modern era, and job-related skills.
The National Council on Skills (NCS) in Nigeria has introduced a series of new strategies to address key challenges in the country’s skill development field. These strategies involve setting up a committee to coordinate activities among Ministries, Departments, Agencies (MDAs), and State Programs. A new press release from Vice President Kashim Shettima’s office, with approval from the Senior Special Assistant to The President on Media and Communications, Stanley Nkwocha, has revealed upcoming initiatives aimed at revolutionizing Nigeria’s skills development industry. These initiatives are set to enhance the country’s ability to meet the evolving needs of the workforce and boost its economic progress.
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This newly formed committee, led by Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman, will concentrate on pinpointing current skill training initiatives in MDAs and states, recognizing prevalent skills in the private sector, and creating plans for standardizing, acknowledging, and certifying these skills. The Council proposed a preliminary bill for the Nigerian Skills Qualifications Framework (NSQF) with the goal of enhancing the skills of the country’s workforce and raising the standard of skilled labor. Effectively improving skills can lead to a decrease in unemployment, boost productivity, and enhance overall quality of life.