Nigeria’s education system not meeting job needs — NESG

The Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) has highlighted a significant disconnect between Nigeria's education system and the demands of the labour market, stating that current weaknesses in the educational pipeline hinder the transition of young people into productive employment. NESG's Lead, Human Capital Development Thematic Group, Oluwatobi Oseni, emphasized that the effectiveness of the education system should be assessed not just by the number of certificates awarded, but by the learners' ability to contribute meaningfully to national productivity.

He described the human capital challenge in Nigeria as a "broken education pipeline" that requires interventions from foundational learning through tertiary education, skills development, and employment. The NESG's pre-summit dialogue, "Future-proofing Nigerian Education," addressed education quality, access, skills development, and employability, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive approach that includes foundational learning, access to higher education, curriculum, teaching, skill development, and transition into employment.

Speakers called for practical solutions, stronger university-industry partnerships, and integration of entrepreneurship, innovation, and digital skills into university education to bridge the gap between academic research and industry needs.