Nigerian graduates 'not good enough to be employed' to have extra year of study - Minister

Nigeria is considering a major policy change to its tertiary education that would see graduates go for an extra year of studies before entering the labour market. 

This was disclosed by the Minister of State for Education, Anthony Anwukah, on Tuesday at a two-day retreat for governing councils of federal universities in Abuja.

The retreat, held under the theme ‘Elements of Statutory Governance, Procurement and Financial Accounting in Nigerian Universities,’ is to address the challenges of the education sector. Mr Anwukah said this was being considered because many university graduates were not good enough to be employed by industries.

He said the proposal was similar to the extra year currently being undertaken by law and medical students.

Law students attend Law School for one year before going for NYSC and medical students go for one year Housemanship before they are allowed to practice fully, so it will be necessary for other courses to also go through this process, he said.

The Lagos Business School can also serve as a one year after-school training.

The universities are producing products that are not matching the needs of the industries. I urged the Committee of Pro-chancellors and Committee of Vice-Chancellor to end the decline in the standard of education, he said.

From premium times