Nigeria’s Skills Crisis Deepens as Government, Experts Push Urgent Overhaul of Technical Education

By: Michael Mike

Growing concerns over Nigeria’s widening skills gap took centre stage in Abuja on Wednesday, as education stakeholders warned that the country risks undermining its industrial ambitions without a radical overhaul of its technical training system.

At a high-level session of the BEAR III Programme convened by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), the Federal Ministry of Education Nigeria acknowledged that current training models are failing to keep pace with the rapidly evolving demands of industry—particularly in agro-processing, a sector seen as critical to job creation and economic diversification.

Director of Technology and Science Education, Mrs. Patricia Ogungbemi,, delivered a blunt assessment: Nigeria is producing graduates who are increasingly disconnected from the realities of modern workplaces.

While investments in infrastructure and technology have grown, she warned that the human capacity needed to drive those systems remains weak.

“There is a dangerous mismatch between what is taught and what is required,” she said. “Machines are evolving, industries are advancing, but the workforce is not keeping up at the same speed.”

Ogungbemi pointed to emerging trends such as automation, smart packaging, and sustainable production systems, noting that many Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions have yet to integrate these realities into their curricula.

She described the ongoing Labour Market Analysis (LMA) as a critical diagnostic tool, but stressed that data alone would not solve the problem without decisive policy action and sustained funding.

“What we are confronting is not just a training issue—it is a structural challenge that affects productivity, competitiveness, and national growth,” she added.

The warning comes amid rising youth unemployment and growing frustration among employers who say graduates often lack practical, job-ready skills.

Stakeholders at the event argued that unless Nigeria urgently retools its education system to prioritise hands-on, industry-driven learning, sectors like agro-processing—despite their vast potential—may struggle to absorb the millions entering the labour market each year.

Kano State Commissioner for Education, Ali Makoda, reinforced the urgency, describing work-based learning as a “non-negotiable pathway” to addressing the crisis.

According to him, states are beginning to recognise that traditional classroom models alone cannot solve unemployment challenges.

“We must embed learning within the workplace,” he said. “The future of education is not just in classrooms, but in factories, farms, and production lines.”

Makoda said Kano State is scaling up partnerships with industry players to ensure students gain real-world experience before graduation, aligning training with both national development goals and global standards.

Despite these commitments, participants acknowledged persistent obstacles, including underfunded institutions, outdated equipment, and weak collaboration between academia and industry.

They also stressed the need for stronger private sector involvement, arguing that employers must play a more active role in shaping curricula and offering apprenticeship opportunities.

With support from international partners, including the Government of the Republic of Korea, the BEAR III initiative is expected to drive reforms in skills development, particularly in agriculture-linked industries.

However, observers said the success of such programmes will ultimately depend on Nigeria’s willingness to translate policy discussions into concrete, system-wide change.

As deliberations continue, one message remains clear: without a skilled workforce aligned to industry needs, Nigeria’s economic aspirations may remain out of reach.

Nigeria’s Skills Crisis Deepens as Government, Experts Push Urgent Overhaul of Technical Education

FG Vows to Amplify Women’s Voices, Push for Gender Equality in Leadership

By: Michael Mike

The Federal Government has renewed its pledge to safeguard women’s and girls’ rights, promising to expand their influence in Nigeria’s leadership and development sectors.

Speaking at the annual Renewed Women’s Voice and Leadership (RWVL) planning meeting, organized by ActionAid Nigeria in partnership with Global Affairs Canada, Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, emphasized that the government will intensify collaborative efforts to ensure women gain greater access to leadership roles, productive assets, and socio-economic opportunities.

Represented by Ebele Obiefuna, the Minister lauded ActionAid’s role in strengthening women’s organizations and driving empowerment programs nationwide. “We value this partnership and reaffirm our commitment to initiatives that create lasting impact for women across Nigeria,” she said.

Highlighting government support, Minister of Budget and Economic Planning Abubakar Bagudu, represented by Mrs. Tonia Okangbe, assured participants that ministries would back programs advancing women’s leadership and rights.

ActionAid Nigeria Country Director, Dr. Andrew Mamedu, revealed that RWVL is entering its second phase, building on successes that have strengthened women’s political participation, advocacy, and socio-economic influence. He stressed that the initiative is designed to ensure that women’s voices are not only heard but shape decision-making processes at all levels.

“This is about more than programmes,” Mamedu said. “It’s about creating a future where women’s leadership is visible, respected, and transformative for communities across Nigeria.”

The meeting signals a renewed focus on closing gender gaps in leadership, empowering women economically, and ensuring that their contributions to governance and society are recognized and amplified.

FG Vows to Amplify Women’s Voices, Push for Gender Equality in Leadership

ISWAP fighters express apprehension over safety of families after airstrikes in Sambisa

By: Zagazola Makama

Fresh intelligence indicating apprehension among suspected Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters over the condition of their families following recent air operations in Sambisa Forest points to growing internal strain within the group.

Security sources said the concerns emerged after Nigerian Air Force (NAF) components of Operation Hadin Kai conducted precision strikes on insurgent positions in the Sambisa axis of Borno State.

According to the intelligence, a suspected ISWAP fighter identified as Shettima, alongside associates operating around the Limanti axis along the Maiduguri–Mafa road, expressed frustration over delayed and conflicting information regarding the impact of the air operations.

He was said to have lamented that news of the strikes reached him late and questioned the accuracy of information being circulated among fighters regarding the fate of their relatives.

Another associate, identified as Abu Fatima, was quoted in the intelligence as explaining that senior commanders had discouraged the sharing of operational or casualty details with fighters and their families, warning that such disclosures could attract internal sanctions.

He further suggested that during the air operations, fighters reportedly fled from targeted locations while some of their family members, including women and children, were gathered at a separate location.

He said that NAF subsequently struck an accurate hit of fighters, resulting in casualties and injuries.

The sources also indicated that while some affected individuals were receiving treatment within insurgent-held enclaves, others had sustained severe injuries, including amputations, while a number had reportedly been treated and discharged.

Sources say the development reflects increasing psychological pressure within the group, as sustained aerial bombardments continue to disrupt its operational stability and command confidence.

The Military under Operation Hadin Kai has continued to degrade insurgent mobility, logistics and cohesion, forcing fighters to contend not only with battlefield losses but also growing uncertainty over the safety of their families.

They note that beyond physical losses, the insurgents are increasingly grappling with fear, misinformation and distrust, particularly over the fate of relatives caught in conflict zones.

They argue that such pressure may further weaken morale within ISWAP ranks and intensify internal distrust between field fighters and senior commanders, particularly over communication gaps and casualty reporting.

However, while sustained air operations are yielding operational gains, continued pressure on insurgent strongholds will require a combination of air, ground and intelligence-driven coordination to consolidate long-term stability in the North East.

urgent strongholds in Sambisa and surrounding axes, weakening morale and disrupting command confidence.

However, they caution that consolidating gains will require sustained coordination between air and ground components, as well as improved intelligence exploitation to further degrade insurgent recovery capacity in the region.

ISWAP fighters express apprehension over safety of families after airstrikes in Sambisa