Mohammed Asibelua, Equinox Group Ltd’s executive chairman, leads a Nigerian group of companies credited with energising Sub-Saharan Africa. As the country’s leading investment group, Equinox Group Ltd manages a portfolio spanning industries as diverse as oil and gas, mining, real estate, shipping and logistics, telecoms, franchising and information communications technology. This article will look at vocational training and its potential to drive down unemployment and plug labour force gaps in Nigeria and beyond.
A new job or change of career marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter in an individual’s professional life. Whether an individual has just graduated high school or is a seasoned professional seeking a new challenge, vocational training can offer an invaluable opportunity to develop new skills, knowledge and experience, opening the door to better, higher-paid jobs and presenting scope for a happier, more successful and meaningful life.
Also known as ‘trade school’, vocational training is delivered in the form of a course or programme designed to help prepare participants for a specific role, career or vocation. While general education courses from a traditional college often combine unrelated subjects, vocational training focuses on hands-on learning pertaining directly to the student’s chosen career.
Vocational training provides valuable, marketable skills in fields as diverse as hospitality, animation, computer programming, automotive repair, graphic design and carpentry. Catering to a vast array of interests and aspirations, trade schools accommodate students of all ages and people from all walks of life, from school leavers eager to embark on their professional path to experienced workers seeking to upgrade their skillsets.
Nigeria is currently grappling with a profound unemployment crisis. Recent statistics suggest an alarming rate of joblessness in the country, particularly among the country’s youth. As of 2021, approximately one third of the country’s adult population was unemployed, highlighting the urgency of implementing effective solutions to counter this socioeconomic challenge.
While traditional education systems tend to prioritise theoretical knowledge over practical skills, vocational training programmes present a promising solution in terms of preparing graduates for the demands of the modern workforce. By providing candidates with knowledge, practical skills and training relevant to their specific trade and occupation, vocational training prepares individuals for employment by equipping them with vital experience and hands-on expertise. Through a combination of classroom instruction and internships, apprenticeships and practical training, students develop real-world competencies and vocational skills.
Several factors have contributed to Nigeria’s high unemployment rate, including limited access to education, insufficient job creation, inadequate infrastructure and economic downturns. High levels of youth unemployment have had far-reaching implications for socioeconomic development across the country, culminating in lost productivity and wasted human capital and contributing to crime, insecurity and social unrest, with unemployed individuals resorting to illegal activities through desperation and frustration. The situation has also triggered a worrying ‘brain drain’ in the country, leading many educated and skilled Nigerians to seek out new employment opportunities abroad due to the limited opportunities available at home.
Designed to meet the specific needs of the labour market, vocational training provides students with skills and competencies that are highly sought after by employers. In addition to diversifying career pathways, vocational training also promotes entrepreneurship, encouraging innovation and self-employment.
Recognising the significant benefits offered by vocational training, the Nigerian Government established the Department of Vocational Technical and Skills Development to coordinate development of working skills in both formal and informal sectors of the national economy. Charged with regulating technical and vocational education and training institutions across the country, Nigeria’s National Board for Technical Education provides recommendations for the establishment of new polytechnics, as well as allocating grants to existing learning institutions as part of wider government efforts to simultaneously address Nigeria’s high unemployment rate along with acute shortages in technical manpower