Professor Surajudeen Bankole, former dean of the Faculty of Economics and Management Sciences at the University of Ibadan, declared on the 2025 NextGen‑Ideate cohort graduation that Nigerian graduates are employable, refuting claims that the country’s fresh graduates are largely unemployable.
Bankole said the belief that Nigerian graduates cannot be hired is wrong, pointing out that those who are perceived as “unemployable” are actually the ones excelling abroad and returning to contribute to the nation.
“I cannot support the saying that Nigerian graduates are unemployable. They are saying it maybe because of the proliferation of higher institutions or because we are not producing enough teachers to mount those institutions,” Bankole explained. “Because when we say non‑employable, it means they cannot even employ you at all. Some of the graduates they are saying that they are not employable are those who go out of the country and excel. They are saying that maybe it is just to cover up their own failure. The government needs to be realistic.”
He added that the University of Ibadan is ranked number one in Nigeria and that Nigerian universities feature prominently in African and world rankings, underscoring the quality of local education. Bankole urged employers to increase their budgets and invest in training, arguing that graduates are capable when given proper support.
Programme Director Dr. Tunji Owoseni said the NextGen‑Ideate programme is an opportunity to unlock the potential of fresh graduates, equipping them with the skills and opportunities needed to succeed in the workforce.
<small>Source: Daily Post Nigeria — read the original story there.</small>
