FG pivots education to digital skills to close employability gap

The federal government has begun reorienting Nigeria’s education system toward skills in artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, cloud computing, networking and data analytics, in a bid to produce graduates who can fit into a fast-changing labour market.

Tunji Alausa, minister of education, said the reforms are designed to narrow the gap between what is taught in classrooms and what employers need, and to equip young Nigerians for jobs, innovation and entrepreneurship.

The minister disclosed this on Wednesday while delivering the keynote address at the Cisco Networking Academy Instructor Safari Conference for English West and Central Africa, themed “Navigating the Future of Skills Development for the Nigerian Economy.”

The remarks were contained in a statement signed by Ikharo Attah, the minister’s special adviser on media and communications.

“The government is shifting the focus of education from mainly academic learning to preparing learners for productive employment and business creation, as digital technology reshapes how people learn, work, communicate and create value,” Alausa said.

He named software development, networking, cybersecurity, data analytics, cloud computing and AI as the core digital competencies Nigerian youths need, but stressed that technical expertise must be backed by critical thinking, communication, teamwork and problem-solving.

The minister said digital training institutions should be judged less by examination results than by whether their learners can build practical solutions, develop useful products, improve services and set up sustainable businesses.

To tighten the link between education and jobs, he called for stronger collaboration among schools, industry players and employers. He urged training providers to build practical projects, mentorship, internships and recognised certifications into their programmes, adding that portfolios showing learners’ real achievements would improve their chances in the job market, entrepreneurship and further study.

Alausa disclosed that digital technology is being introduced into school curricula from the primary level to lay the groundwork for advanced skills later.

He said the ministry’s reform agenda rests on six priority areas: Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medical Sciences (STEMM); Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET); reducing the number of out-of-school children; girl-child education; data and digitalisation; and quality assurance. Digital skills, he added, cut across all six, supporting scientific learning, practical instruction and evidence-based planning.

The minister also called for fair access to affordable internet, digital devices and learning resources, particularly for girls, persons with disabilities, rural learners and students facing financial constraints.

Kashifu Abdullahi, director-general of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), in a related address, urged instructors to prioritise critical thinking, complex problem-solving and lifelong learning over exam success alone.

Abdullahi, himself an alumnus of the Cisco Networking Academy, said digital skills can transform career prospects and prepare Nigerians for evolving workplace demands. He also pointed to ongoing collaboration between NITDA and the ministry to embed digital literacy in school curricula and tertiary education.

Alausa assured that the ministry would sustain the reforms, deepen partnerships with industry, and widen access to quality digital skills training under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.