President Bola Tinubu has urged Nigerian universities to overhaul their curricula to improve graduate employability and support job creation, warning that the growing number of graduates entering the labour market each year demands urgent reforms in higher education.
Speaking at the 36th convocation ceremony of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), Tinubu — represented by the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Abdullahi Yusuf Ribadu — said universities must now prioritise skills development, innovation, and entrepreneurship to help young people navigate an increasingly competitive job market.
He noted that the long-standing expectation of securing government employment was no longer realistic.
“It is overwhelming to note the number of graduates that are to be added to the labour market,” he said. “It is therefore needful to pay close attention to the relevance of our curricula to employability and job creation.”
Tinubu said the Federal Government could not provide employment for every graduate but would continue to implement policies that promoted private-sector growth.
“While it is agreed that the Government alone cannot provide job opportunities directly for the teeming graduates of our Higher Educational Institutions, the Government will continue to create an enabling environment for investments and businesses to thrive,” he said.
The president stressed that the future of work would be shaped by technology, adding that his administration was committed to strengthening research, improving industry–university collaboration, and expanding opportunities in Nigeria’s digital and green economy sectors.
“This administration recognises the critical role of science, technology, and innovation in our national development,” he said. “We are therefore committed to policies that strengthen education, promote research funding, and foster collaborations between universities and industries.”
He stated that ongoing initiatives in renewable energy, the digital economy, and infrastructure development were opening new career paths for young people, urging graduates to prepare themselves for these emerging opportunities.
Tinubu also encouraged the new graduates to look beyond white-collar jobs and embrace agriculture as a viable career option. He described the agricultural value chain as a “goldmine” capable of generating employment and wealth for young Nigerians willing to explore it.
