Lack of Skills is Cause of Rising Youth Unemployment – Ex-Defence Minister Kayode

Former Minister of Defence, Prince Adetokunbo Kayode, SAN, says the high unemployment rate among Nigerian youths and graduates is driven largely by a lack of relevant skills and a widening mismatch between training and industry needs.

Delivering the 36th convocation lecture of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), Kayode described the current unemployment rate — with 53.4 per cent of young people and graduates out of work — as “depressing and unacceptable.”

He told graduating students and youth across the country that skills acquisition must become the top priority if Nigeria is to reverse the unemployment trend. According to him, young Nigerians must pursue high-quality, industry-relevant skills that can lead to meaningful jobs, productive ventures, and broader national development.

Speaking on the theme “Strategies and Tactics for Solving the Skills Challenge in Nigeria: The Roles of Government, Institutions, and the Youth,” Kayode identified agriculture, mining, technology, energy, and construction as key sectors driving growth.

However, he noted that the skills supplied by the education system continue to fall short of what employers require.

To address the persistent mismatch, the former minister recommended a coordinated national approach that aligns training with labour market demands and equips youths with competencies suited to priority growth sectors.

Kayode commended the Federal Government for establishing the National Policy on Skills Development under the Ministry of Education, describing it as a vital step toward aligning curricula and training programmes with industry standards. He said the policy has the potential to bridge long-standing gaps between the education system and the labour market.

He further urged the government to undertake a comprehensive restructuring of Nigeria’s curriculum from primary to tertiary education, stressing that a clear framework for curriculum design and strategic direction is currently lacking.

READ ALSO: FG Launches TVET Initiative To Tackle Youth Unemployment

To achieve the goals outlined in the National Skills Policy, Kayode said, “Nigeria must move away from Industrial Training Fund (ITF), and other moribund agencies and break new ground.”

He said that “Nigeria should establish a dedicated National Skills Development Fund, drawing a percentage of funds from ITF, NASENI, TETFUND, and PTDF, specifically to finance massive TVET skills and training as a national priority.”

“Nigeria must leverage technology by investing in e-learning infrastructure and digital platforms to democratize access to quality educational content and skills training, especially in rural areas.”

“Young people must accept the fact that formal education is just the start, and recognise the need for continuous upskilling and reskilling to remain competitive in a rapidly changing labour market.

“Do not wait for institutions to provide everything. Actively seek out online courses, certifications, bootcamps, and apprenticeships in high-demand fields outside the traditional academic or even the TVET structure.”

“You must proceed on the basis that you will make progress and achieve only if you are an employer.

“The current skills challenge becomes an opportunity for skills acquisition, application, and innovation in starting small businesses or social enterprises, thus creating jobs for yourselves and others.

“Digital Literacy is a must, irrespective of your degree. All modern jobs require a foundation in digital literacy. The richest people in the world today are people in the digital economy.

He noted that “In developing countries, they are also the people in the industrial economy. In Nigeria, young Nigerians are doing very well in the creative economy and technology space. You all require the basic digital literacy, then you can scale up.