Nigeria’s Minister for Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, has stressed the importance of practical skills among young people, arguing that academic qualifications alone are no longer enough to secure opportunities in today’s job market.
Speaking on Friday during Channels Television’s Youth Forum 2026, the minister said many students focus primarily on obtaining university degrees while neglecting the practical competencies employers increasingly demand.
“One of the things I have always emphasised is skill development. Certificates alone may not be what is needed.
“You would discover that a lot of people going to school today are just going to school to become graduates. The skill gap should be addressed at the root of the matter,” Channels TV quoted Olawande to have said.
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Olawande also raised concerns about what he described as unrealistic salary expectations among some young graduates, attributing the trend to inadequate career guidance and limited exposure to entrepreneurship and vocational training.
“I was watching before the programme (Channels Television’s Youth Forum 2026) started, and some youths were asked how much they would like to receive as a salary after graduation. I saw some say ₦1 and another say ₦3 million,” he said.
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“When you ask them how they intend to earn that money, and they say through the civil service, then you understand why skill development is important,” he added.
The minister identified access to education as a major challenge facing many young Nigerians but commended the Federal Government’s student loan programme, the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, for helping more students pursue higher education.
“One of the major problems youths face in this country is access to education for those who genuinely want to be educated,” he said.
“NELFund is one initiative that has impacted Nigeria positively. No student should drop out of school again because he or she cannot afford to pay school fees.”
Olawande further highlighted the difficulties many graduates encounter while adjusting to life after school, particularly during the National Youth Service Corps programme and the transition into the workforce, especially for those coming from informal employment backgrounds.
Despite the challenges, the minister expressed confidence in the potential of Nigerian youths, maintaining that they can play a significant role in national development when given the right opportunities and support.
“I strongly believe that Nigerian youths are not the problem. They have the spirit, and they have the solutions, provided they are engaged properly,” he said.
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