An elder statesman, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, has cited reason for the huge unemployment in the country principally to lack of skill-oriented education.

He called for the scrapping of what he described as irrelevant courses in the country's institutions as well as the review of the country's education curricular to make them skill-oriented.

Speaking as a guest lecturer for the first faculty of education public lecture of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka on Thursday, Iwuanyanwu said the education of every country should tilt towards responding to its societal needs.

According to him, "Any educational system that produces unemployable graduates is faulty".

In his address at the public lecture themed, “Restructuring Education to meet the economic social challenges”, the businessman cum politician observed that while a large number of graduates produced by Nigerian universities are unemployed, most are unemployable due to lack of skills.

The address reads: “The Curriculum of Nigerian universities and other tertiary institutions including secondary schools must be immediately reviewed to respond to the stark realities of Nigerian experience. It is dangerous for any nation to produce large number of unemployed and unemployable young men and women.

“This creates discontent and may even lead to social rebellion or revolution.

“Educational curriculum must therefore be reviewed to ensure that students while in school acquire skills that will enable them earn money in school and also enable them establish their own businesses after school.

“This will reduce the pressure on government to create jobs. The Federal Ministry of Education must as a matter of urgency address this..

“Today in Nigeria thousands of young men and women graduate from universities and other tertiary institutions without any hope of employment.”

He noted that the situation was worsened by the economic situation of the country that has substantially destroyed the private sector.

While calling for the resuscitation of the private sectors as well as adequate funding of tertiary institutions in the country, Iwuanyanwu recalled that in the 60s, a brilliant graduate will not look for job in government.

He added: “Such a graduate will prefer to work in a private sector where his skills will be challenged and where the remuneration was certainly higher.

“But today, the biggest employer of labour in Nigeria is the government. From my experience, the first indication of a faulty economy is when graduates prefer to get employment from government or government agencies rather than private sector.

“In any economy where the private sector is weak, the country is bound to face economic and social crisis.

“The involvement of the private sector in this restructuring exercise will also increase competition, collaboration and mentoring opportunities that will lead to innovation that can meet our social and economic needs.”

He, however, expressed confidence that Nigeria could still come out from her present doldrums if education would be given budgetary priority saying that such feat could be achieved through an effective educational system that promotes highly knowledgeable, well skilled and resourceful graduates.

The address further reads: “Quality education is indispensable to economic development. A balanced educational system with adequate skill acquisition components promotes not only economic development but also productivity.

“In restructuring education to meet with the 21st Century demand, one will start looking specifically at higher education. Our higher institutions must now integrate attachment scheme to every degree awarding programme and must encourage programmes that can enable students work while in school in line with their respective course of study.”

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