Over the years, the agriculture, manufacturing
and information technology (IT) sectors have remained pivotal in the economies
of developing and developed nations. They are a precursor to socio-economic
development and national competitiveness.
A report by McKinsey Global
Institute reveals that young
developing economies of South Asia and Africa, particularly Nigeria, will have
the fastest growing labour force, increasing at about 2.3 percent annually. These nations are expected to contribute about 360
million of the net new workers in the global labour force in the next 20 years.
Despite this pool, key economic indicators show
there are skills gaps in the formal and informal sectors. Unaddressed, they
will hinder a country’s quest for industrial development. An inappropriate
skills mix resulting from non-utilisation of some skills, structural changes in
the economy which make some skills obsolete, etc., has made unemployment
figures to continue to rise.
Though Nigeria is the continent’s leader in ICT
growth, the 2012 Telecommunications Survey, carried
out by Landelahni Business Leaders, revealed that there is a
critical shortage of the technical skills needed to support the fast pace of
telecommunications growth sweeping across the African continent. Kenya, in
fact, is the real leader, thanks to a tripartite of government support, an
immensely successful innovative product, and private initiative.
Underlying Nigeria’s
skills gap is a grossly inadequate educational curriculum. Our courses are
outdated. They need input from end users – industry – to be relevant. Otherwise
we will keep importing skills, with its attendant cost.
Given the current disconnect in Nigeria’s labour
skill inventory, time is ripe to reboot the nation’s educational system by
various joint programmes, particularly between the universities and employers.
Such activities have the potential to play an important part in plugging the
talent gap in the years to come. We believe that retraining individuals for the
jobs of the future and allowing them to visualise what is possible today will
not only make a difference in their lives, but will enrich our communities now
and for years to come. Employers that train and update specific skills can be
offered incentives such as rebates. Universities, in conjunction with the
private sector, can hire retired professionals, e.g., geologists.
Besides re-skilling and retooling graduates, we
believe there is also the need to cater for the large segment of Nigerian
youths who have not had the opportunity to go to university. Relevant
technology skills will open a whole new world of development to populations
that are difficult to employ, and provide support to underemployed, or
dislocated workers.
The Federal Government, in partnership with the
private sector and non-governmental organisations, should expedite action in
establishing technical colleges and vocational training schools. This will help
address the skills gap among artisans. A skilled and productive labour force
remains the only means through which the country can develop.
More importantly – as an alternative narrative to
get-rich-quick-or-die-trying by riding okada – we believe there is the need to
change the public perception of technical colleges, as many Nigerians think
such educational institutions are meant for dullards.
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