Sector-wide Employability in Nigeria
Strengthening Higher Education Institutions
Higher education institutions play a critical role in enhancing employability in Nigeria. Recognizing this critical role, the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) partnered with IFC’s Vitae program in August 2022. Together, they launched a comprehensive employability benchmarking assessment for the sector. Vitae assessed the ability of Nigeria’s higher education institutions to equip students with the skills needed for the job market. Ultimately, insights focused on career services, curriculum relevance, governance for employability, and industry linkages.
By February 2023, IFC facilitated a high-level consultative session with key stakeholders. In attendance were the Ministry of Education, the National Universities Commission (NUC), TETFUND, and leaders from 45 public and private universities.
The event shaped a sector-wide strategy to enhance graduate employability, leading to recommendations in three key areas:
- Strengthening capacity for evidence-based decision-making
- Improving the provision of employability support services
- Enhancing industry linkages through stronger academic-business collaboration
Speaking on the importance of this initiative, the Executive Secretary of TETFUND emphasized:
“Understanding the employability gaps in the Higher Education framework in Nigeria means that all hands must be on deck to tackle the issue headlong. The Fund strongly believes that a strategic synergy between academia, the regulator, and the private sector is one of the ways to go in solving the problem collectively.”
Sonny S.T. Echono
Executive Secretary, TETFUND
Conclusion
Ongoing initiatives continue to foster collaboration, strengthen sector-wide employability frameworks, and promote market-driven interventions. By leveraging research and data, the program aims to create sustainable solutions. Ultimately, these solutions are designed to connect Nigerian graduates with meaningful employment opportunities and economic growth across the region.
EVALUATE THE PRACTICES OF YOUR INSTITUTION WITH OUR BENCHMARKING TOOL AT https://www.vitaeready.org/benchmarking/
