Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, has called for a thorough review of Nigeria’s education system to address the growing disconnect between academic institutions and the demands of the job market.
The governor made the call during a courtesy visit from Mr. Akintunde Sawyerr, the Managing Director and CEO of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), at the Government House in Maiduguri.
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In a statement by Zulum’s spokesman, Dauda Iliya, on Saturday, the governor expressed his concerns about the gap in skills between the graduates produced by Nigerian universities and the requirements of industries. Zulum emphasized that many graduates lack the necessary skills to drive technological advancement and innovation.
“We have two major problems in our educational system: the mismatch between educational institutions and industries, as they do not communicate effectively, and the mismatch between the labour market and graduates, many of whom are unprepared to work in the industries,” Governor Zulum stated.
He urged NELFUND to play a critical role in bridging this gap by implementing solutions that would equip graduates with the skills needed for self-employment, rather than relying solely on the limited job opportunities available.
Governor Zulum also advocated for greater emphasis on entrepreneurship, technical education, and vocational training. “Beyond offering loans, I urge you to explore ways to support entrepreneurship education and promote technical and vocational training to reduce the reluctance toward these critical areas of study,” he added.
In his remarks, Sawyerr outlined NELFUND’s mission to address the rising number of students dropping out of school due to financial challenges. He explained that the education loans provided by the fund are interest-free, with repayment set at 10 per cent of the recipient’s income once they secure employment.
