Chris Maiyaki, the acting executive secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), has revealed that the recently introduced Core Curriculum Minimum Academic Standards (CCMAS) is poised to bridge the existing skills gap and foster the employability of Nigerian graduates.
Speaking at the distinguished 2023 International Summer School and Conference organised by the African Centre for Career Enhancement and Skills Support (ACCESS), Maiyaki stressed the foundational importance of the university system in fostering intellectual and socio-economic advancement within a nation.
In an effort to align higher education with real-world demands, Maiyaki highlighted that “the NUC has taken significant strides, mandating the inclusion of entrepreneurship studies within the curriculum of students across the nation’s universities.”
He noted that “the commission has undertaken a comprehensive curriculum overhaul and collaborated closely with industries to fortify the employability prospects of Nigerian graduates.”
The central theme of the conference, “Cultivating new frontiers in employability research for skills and career enhancement,” provided the platform for Maiyaki to expound upon the necessity for graduates to be fully equipped to navigate the complexities of an ever-evolving and interconnected global landscape, consistently driven by technological advancements.
Maiyaki emphasised the dynamic nature of educational programmes, asserting that their enhancement and adaptation are an ongoing process that must mirror the prevailing global best practices.
“Entrepreneurship has now become an integral facet of our educational framework. This pivot emerges from the imperative to tackle persistent unemployment and the disparity between theoretical and practical knowledge. It is incumbent upon the NUC to convene forums such as this to deliberate upon employability concerns,” Maiyaki stated.
Further affirming the commitment to progress, Maiyaki assured that the conference would harness insights from worldwide expertise, share best practices, and identify emerging trends.
He pledged that concrete, actionable measures would be established to facilitate the enhancement of graduates’ employability.
The NUC’s strategic initiatives through the CCMAS and its collaboration with key industries signal a proactive step towards closing the employability gap and equipping Nigerian graduates to excel in an ever-evolving professional landscape.
The conference serves as a testament to the commission’s dedication to fostering informed discourse and effecting tangible improvements in the sphere of graduate employability.
