{
  "id": 2564589,
  "title": "Finance graduates lack practical skills needed for capital markets, says EKSU Chancellor",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/21/finance-graduates-lack-practical-skills-needed-for-capital-markets",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-08-21T18:12:02.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Nairametrics",
    "slug": "nairametrics",
    "url": "https://nairametrics.com/2026/08/21/finance-graduates-lack-practical-skills-needed-for-capital-markets-says-eksu-chancellor/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Dr. Tunji Olowolafe, Chancellor of Ekiti State University (EKSU), asserts that many finance graduates entering the financial sector are deficient in essential practical skills necessary for thriving in contemporary capital markets. The chancellor made this statement as EKSU prepares to graduate the inaugural batch of its Professional Diploma Programme, the E-KFMTP, focusing on Securities Trading and Financial Markets. Olowolafe emphasized the urgent need for a reform in financial education across Africa, citing that traditional university systems overly prioritize theoretical knowledge and rote learning, leaving graduates unprepared for real-world financial roles. He argued that universities must adopt more practical, industry-focused approaches to equip students with the competencies required by the modern financial sector.\n\nOlowolafe noted that local and global financial markets increasingly demand hands-on technical skills, which conventional classroom teaching often fails to provide. He highlighted the E-FMTP as an initiative aimed at pioneering a shift in African higher education from theoretical learning to real-time execution, providing students with the practical exposure necessary to participate in global financial markets. The president of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu, echoed this sentiment during a recent visit to the State House, where he stressed the importance of teaching the stock market in classrooms to build a nation of succession and prosperity.\n\nEKSU plans to graduate the first cohort of students from its Financial Markets Training Programme (E-FMTP) before the end of 2026. The eight-month Professional Diploma programme, approved by the university Senate in February 2026, is centered on live market simulations and practical financial training. Funded by the Tunji Olowolafe Foundation (TOF) and supported technically by the CFA Institute, the curriculum merges traditional finance concepts with practical trading simulations. Students learn investment analysis, portfolio management, trading strategies, and risk management, while also gaining hands-on experience in financial market operations. The program also provides access to CFA Institute scholarships, project grants, and internship opportunities aimed at enhancing students’ employability and professional development.\n\nThis initiative aligns with broader efforts to deepen financial literacy and market participation among young Nigerians. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced in 2022 its commitment to introducing capital market studies into the secondary school curriculum to advance financial inclusion and digitalize the economy, underscoring the growing emphasis on providing students with practical exposure to financial markets alongside conventional academic training.",
  "summary": "A significant number of finance graduates seeking roles in the financial sector lack the critical and practical skills required to succeed in modern capital markets, the Chancellor of Ekiti State University (EKSU), Dr Tunji Olowolafe, has said. The post Finance graduates lack practical skills needed for capital markets, says EKSU Chancellor appeared first on Nairametrics .",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "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."
}