{
  "id": 14574083,
  "title": "EAPEAN prioritises practical skills over certificates",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/15/eapean-prioritises-practical-skills-over-certificates-14574083",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-15T00:38:09.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Punch Nigeria",
    "slug": "punch-nigeria",
    "url": "https://punchng.com/eapean-prioritises-practical-skills-over-certificates/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Employers Association for Private Employment Agencies of Nigeria (EAPEAN) has emphasized the importance of practical skills over academic certificates in addressing Nigeria's growing unemployment crisis. At the association's 15th Annual General Meeting, President Chief Nzeribe Okegbue urged the government and stakeholders to prioritize vocational and technical skills, noting that the job market has shifted towards valuing practical abilities over paper qualifications. He cited the growing number of tertiary graduates entering the labor market without adequate job opportunities, highlighting that academic degrees alone are insufficient for securing employment. Okegbue stressed that young graduates need practical skills to become productive and generate income while searching for formal career paths. He called for stronger collaboration between the government, licensed recruitment agencies, and development partners to expand job opportunities and improve standards in the recruitment sector. The association's membership has grown from 302 to 355 over the past year, reflecting increasing confidence in its mandate to professionalize private employment agencies. Okegbue emphasized the association's commitment to ethical recruitment, adherence to labor standards, and statutory obligations, including pension contributions, social insurance, and the national minimum wage. He warned that member companies paying workers below the minimum wage are violating association standards and urged unlicensed operators to join the association to avoid risks to job seekers and industry credibility. The event also saw progress in EAPEAN's engagement with organized labor, including a procedural agreement with the National Union of Food, Beverage, and Tobacco Employees.",
  "summary": "The Employers Association for Private Employment Agencies of Nigeria says practical skills, not just certificates, are key to solving Nigeria’s unemploymen Read More: https://punchng.com/eapean-prioritises-practical-skills-over-certificates/",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Punch",
        "title": "EAPEAN prioritises practical skills over certificates",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/15/eapean-prioritises-practical-skills-over-certificates",
        "published": "2026-10-15T00:38:09.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}