Skills Deficit Identified as Root Cause of Graduate Unemployment
The Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), Professor Adenike Oladiji, has revealed that the persistent unemployment among Nigerian graduates stems primarily from skills deficiencies rather than job scarcity. This significant revelation comes as the institution prepares for its 36th convocation ceremony.
Professor Oladiji emphasized that many graduates remain unemployed not because positions are unavailable, but because they lack the practical skills demanded by today's economy. This insight challenges the common narrative about Nigeria's employment landscape and points toward a fundamental mismatch between academic training and market needs.
Convocation Lecture to Address Skills Challenge
The university has scheduled a special convocation lecture for Friday, November 21, 2025, featuring former Minister of Defence, Adetokunbo Kayode (SAN), as the guest speaker. The lecture, titled 'Strategies and tactics for solving skills challenges in Nigeria: The roles of government, institutions, and youths,' will explore comprehensive approaches to bridging the skills gap.
According to Professor Oladiji, this event represents a strategic shift in how universities approach the connection between classroom learning and real-world employability. The lecture will provide graduating students with practical guidance on acquiring skills that the economy actually demands, marking a departure from traditional academic exercises.
Historic Scheduling for Maximum Impact
In a groundbreaking move for FUTA, the convocation lecture will occur on the same day as the award of degrees to 2,747 graduating students. This deliberate scheduling strategy ensures that graduands directly benefit from the keynote insights as they transition into the workforce.
This combined approach is both symbolic and practical, as Professor Oladiji explained: "Convocation lectures are designed for students transitioning into the larger society. Holding both events together allows them to engage immediately with the knowledge and ideas shared."
The Vice-Chancellor noted that the lecture's theme aligns with national calls for skills-based education policies, where universities and industries collaborate to create employment-ready graduates. This approach represents a significant evolution in educational philosophy, moving beyond theoretical knowledge to practical capability.
Regarding the choice of guest lecturer, Professor Oladiji described Kayode as "a leader whose career cuts across governance, law, labour, and culture," bringing both policy experience and practical understanding of human capital development for national progress.
Kayode is expected to provide a broad policy perspective on how government, educational institutions, and youth can collectively reposition Nigeria's workforce for global competitiveness. This comprehensive approach acknowledges that solving the unemployment crisis requires coordinated efforts across multiple sectors.
