Former Minister of National Planning, Prof. Osita Ogbu, recently lamented that Nigerian universities are producing graduates but not solutions. His concerns are valid. For too long, our higher education system has focused on theory at the expense of practice, leaving thousands of graduates unprepared for the realities of today’s workplace. But the way forward is not just to criticize universities—it is to recognize that the real solution lies in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions, especially our polytechnics.
Polytechnics are designed to equip young people with practical and technical skills. They are closer to industry, more hands-on in training, and structured to produce problem-solvers. Unfortunately, these institutions have suffered years of neglect and underfunding, leaving them unable to fulfill their mandate of producing world-class graduates.
To address this gap, the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), under the leadership of Prof. Idris M. Bugaje, has been actively reviewing and updating TVET curricula. For example, the Computer Science curriculum has recently been revised to reflect global best practices and industry demands. This is a step in the right direction, but even the most robust curriculum cannot succeed without proper funding, modern laboratories, and state-of-the-art equipment.
If Nigeria is serious about tackling unemployment, bridging the skills gap, and becoming globally competitive, then government must urgently fund polytechnics adequately. With modern facilities, updated curricula, and strong partnerships with industry, polytechnics can produce graduates who are not just employable but also capable of creating jobs and driving innovation.
The truth is that certificates alone do not build nations—skills do. Countries that have advanced economically did so by prioritizing technical and vocational education. Nigeria cannot continue to treat its polytechnics as second-class institutions.
Prof. Ogbu is right to call out the shortcomings in our higher education system. But the bigger message is this: if we truly want graduates who can provide solutions, then polytechnics and other TVET institutions must receive the funding and recognition they deserve.
The future of Nigeria depends not on the number of degrees we issue, but on the quality of skills we produce. It is time to stop producing graduates without solutions and start investing in the institutions that can actually deliver them.
– Moses Emani Salami writes from Kogi state.
