Stakeholders advocate skills-based education reform
By Funmilayo Adeyemi
Lawmakers, policymakers, and education stakeholders have called for urgent reforms to integrate practical skills and entrepreneurship into Nigeria’s education system to curb rising youth unemployment.
They made the call at the 2025 Uwais-Maiwada Aid Foundation (UMAF) Impact Forum in Abuja on Monday.
The theme was “Building Opportunities: Education, Enterprise, and Empowerment for the New Nigeria”.
Former Bayelsa Governor, Chief Timipre Sylva, in his keynote address, stressed the need to prioritise human capital development over dependence on natural resources.
“A resource that is not developed cannot be of much value to the nation, the number of out-of-school children is mounting across the country, fuelled by insecurity, poverty and ignorance.
“This is not a northern or southern problem; it is a Nigerian problem, and we must all take collective responsibility in solving it,” Sylva said.
He warned that national unity hinged on shared responsibility and inclusion, urging Nigerians to see the education crisis in any part of the country as a shared concern.
Executive Secretary of UMAF, Mr Uwais Maiwada, said the forum aimed to shift conversations from problems to solutions, especially in bridging the gap between traditional learning and practical skills.
“Today we are here not just to discuss challenges but to share innovative approaches that can unlock the potential of education to empower individuals and enterprises,” he said.
He noted that aligning education with real-world demands was crucial to building a future where Nigerian youth can thrive in a rapidly evolving global economy.
Earlier, Chairperson of the House Committee on TETFund, Rep. Miriam Onuoha, praised the foundation’s impact and pledged continued collaboration through enabling laws and oversight.
Onuoha highlighted the TETFund Innovate Programme and the TVET Scheme as crucial government interventions aimed at equipping young Nigerians with hands-on training, infrastructure support and access to startup funding.
“As a legislator, I am committed to supporting programmes that prioritise skills and empowerment, especially for women. When you empower a woman, you empower a nation,” she said.
Also, Chairman of the House Committee on Basic Education, Rep. Mark Useni, said reversing the out-of-school trend required the collective action of all Nigerians.
“For us to sleep peacefully, we must ensure that every child is educated,” he said.
“The foundation’s work aligns with the national call to action, and I urge all stakeholders to support this vision”.
Former Minister of Transportation, Mr Mu’azu Sambo, warned that Nigeria’s youthful population, over 70 per cent of whom are under 35, could become a liability if not productively engaged.
With population estimates projected to reach over 260 million by 2030 and 400 million by 2050, Sambo said the mismatch between education and labour market needs had become more urgent.
“Our graduates are largely unemployable because they lack practical capabilities. Degrees provide theory, but skills drive execution.
“We must embed digital skills, innovation, and problem-solving into the curriculum,” he said.
The forum concluded with a call for stronger partnerships among government, the private sector and civil society to drive an education reform agenda that builds a skilled, inclusive, and competitive workforce for Nigeria’s future. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Tosin Kolade
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