The PUNCH editorial, “Bridging Nigeria’s Skills Gap”, rightly draws attention to one of the most urgent development challenges facing Nigeria today. With a large youth population, the country should ordinarily be converting its demographic strength into productivity, innovation and industrial growth. Yet, as the editorial noted, the persistent shortage of competent artisans, technicians, digital workers, and industry-ready professionals continues to limit national competitiveness.
This concern is valid and timely. Nigeria does not merely have an unemployment problem; it has an employability and performance problem. Too many young people are leaving schools and training programmes with certificates, but without the practical competencies required to function effectively in modern workplaces. In construction, automotive repair, manufacturing, agriculture, digital services, and software development, the consequences are visible: poor workmanship, weak productivity, costly errors and missed economic opportunities.
However, while skills acquisition is important, Nigeria must now move the conversation beyond training. The deeper challenge
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