Skills gap: NECA calls for synergy between employers, tertiary institutions
The Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) has called for a synergy between employers and tertiary institutions to bridge skills gap and career enhancement for sustainable economic development.
The Director-General of NECA, Mr Adewale-Smatt Oyerinde, stated this on Monday in Abuja, at the 2023 International Conference of Africa Centre for Enhancement and Skills Support (Access).
The programme was organised by the National University Commission, with the theme, “Cultivating New Frontiers in Employability Research for Skills and Career Enhancement.”
Oyerinde said that the collaboration was necessary to ensure that Nigerian graduates were employable.
According to him, the unemployability of Nigerian graduates is a pressing issue that demands attention and concerted efforts of all stakeholders.
“This is because, while Nigerian universities and tertiary institutions are producing large number of graduates each year, there are issues of skills mismatch, poor soft skills, and limited entrepreneurial skills.
“Other problems are lack of practical experience and limited industry-academia collaboration that hinders their successful transition into the skilled workforce in the country.
“That is why, there is a need to bridge the gap between the needs of industry and products of Nigerian higher institutions, to provide work-ready talents.
“There is also the need for the alignment of education with industry needs, which will allow higher institutions to align their curricula, training programs and research with the actual needs of the job market,” he said.
Oyerinde therefore, said that the collaboration between employers and the higher institutions would foster the overall development of the workforce and the economy for the good of the country.
He said that the higher institutions must recognise the critical role of employers as the receiver of their products and should be willing to collaborate for mutual benefits.
He added that a collaboration between employers and higher institutions would create a symbiotic relationship where employers would gain access to a skilled workforce and talented pool.
“This would also enable the educational institutions to stay current with industry trends and ensure that graduates are equipped with the knowledge and skills that employers need.
“There is no doubt that the synergy between the NUC, tertiary institutions and the private sector will serve as an effective platform for cultivating new frontiers in employability research for skills and career in Nigeria,” he said.
