A Professor of Marketing and Business Strategy at McPherson University, Professor Isaac Onigbinde, has called for urgent reforms in Nigeria’s education and employment sectors to address the nation’s widening skill gap. He made the call while delivering the maiden convocation lecture of Ed-John Institute of Management and Technology on Thursday, May 21, 2026.
Speaking on the theme, “Nigeria’s Skill Gap is Real, Structural and Solvable: The Future-Proof Economy Model,” Prof. Onigbinde described the disconnect between educational training and labour market demands as one of the major challenges confronting Nigeria’s economic growth. He noted that despite the country’s youthful population, many graduates remain unemployable due to inadequate practical, technical, and digital skills.
The professor identified outdated educational curricula, weak collaboration between industries and academic institutions, and poor access to learning resources as major factors contributing to the persistent skill gap. According to him, many institutions still rely on obsolete teaching methods that fail to prepare students for the realities of a rapidly evolving global economy driven by technology and innovation.
Prof. Onigbinde stressed the need for comprehensive reforms in the education sector, including greater emphasis on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), vocational education, and technical training. He also advocated improved internship and apprenticeship programmes that would provide students with hands-on industry experience while helping employers identify and nurture future talent.
He further emphasized the importance of lifelong learning, urging institutions, government agencies, and private organisations to invest in continuous professional development and digital literacy initiatives. Congratulating the graduating students of the institute, Prof. Onigbinde encouraged them to become agents of transformation capable of bridging societal gaps and contributing meaningfully to Nigeria’s sustainable economic development.
