A former Minister of Defence, Prince Adetokunbo Kayode (SAN), has urged graduating students of the Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, not to rely solely on the certificates they obtained in school. He recently appealed to them to acquire additional skills to become self-reliant, and Nigerians have been reacting.
Speaking while delivering the convocation lecture at FUTA’s 36th convocation ceremony on Friday, he advised the graduates to ensure they are digitally literate to keep pace with ongoing global technological trends.
According to him, young Nigerians must know that formal education does not erase the fact that continuous upskilling and reskilling are needed to stay competitive in a rapidly changing labour market.
He stated that digital literacy will always be a must, regardless of school certificates and degrees.
“My dear youths, do not wait for institutions to provide everything. Actively seek out online courses, certifications, boot camps, and apprenticeships in high-demand fields outside traditional academics. There are several free online courses and practical training available on platforms such as YouTube, Coursera, LinkedIn, and more. Some may require a fee, but most are free and, even if not certified, are still useful. You will learn and acquire the skills you seek.
Many times, if you have the requisite skills, very few employers or contractors will bother asking for your certificate. You must proceed on the basis that you will make progress and achieve success, even if you become an employer yourself. The current skills challenge presents an opportunity for skill acquisition, application, and innovation, including starting small businesses or social enterprises that create jobs for yourselves and others.
Digital literacy is a must, irrespective of your degree. All modern jobs require a foundation in digital literacy. The richest people in the world today are those in the digital economy. In developing countries, they are also in an industrialised economy. In Nigeria, young people are excelling in the creative economy and technology space. You need basic digital literacy first, and then you can scale up,” he said.
He then called on governments at all levels to integrate Technical and Vocational Education and Training into the education curriculum as a matter of policy, enabling it to award degrees.
Kayode concluded by saying that both federal and state governments must work on increasing budgetary allocations for the expansion and modernisation of TVET centres in all 774 local government areas across Nigeria.
“There must be a clear directive to mainstream TVET into the educational curriculum as a national priority. This will eliminate the perception that TVET is a fallback option rather than a first-choice career path.
Furthermore, both federal and state governments must significantly increase budgetary allocations for the expansion and modernisation of TVET centres in all 774 local government areas in Nigeria to promote interdisciplinary education and innovation-led learning.
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Intentional policies must encourage and incentivise private sector funding of TVET training. For instance, major economic institutions in Nigeria, such as Dangote Industries and Power companies, should be attached to tertiary and technical institutions.
Fiscal incentives, including tax breaks and subsidies, should be offered to companies that establish training programs, skills centres, offer apprenticeships, or partner with educational institutions to provide certifiable practical training,” he added.
