President Bola Tinubu has called on the authorities of tertiary institutions across the country to prioritise curriculum reform to produce graduates equipped with practical, market-ready skills for today’s rapidly evolving labour landscape.
Speaking on Saturday at the 38th convocation ceremony of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), in Ondo State, the President said Nigerian higher institutions must move beyond outdated teaching models and embrace innovative, skills-driven learning that supports both employability and entrepreneurship.
Tinubu, represented by the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Abdullahi Yusuf Ribadu, noted that curriculum redesign remains crucial to national development.
He stressed that his administration was committed to strengthening the higher education system through improved policies, investment in technology, research funding, and stronger university-industry collaborations.
The President added that his government would continue to provide an enabling environment for investments and businesses to thrive, especially in the areas of technology, renewable energy, health sciences, and vocational trades.
“While today’s ceremony brings joy, it is overwhelming to consider the number of graduates joining the labour market. It is therefore important to focus on the relevance of our curricula to employability and job creation.
“Government alone cannot directly provide jobs for the teeming graduates from our institutions, but we will continue to create an environment where businesses can grow. This administration recognises the critical role of science, technology, and innovation in our national development,” he said.
Tinubu also highlighted ongoing efforts under the digital economy agenda, renewable energy initiatives, and infrastructure development, revealing that they present new opportunities for graduates.
On agriculture, he reiterated that Nigeria’s abundant natural resources offer significant prospects for wealth creation, urging graduates to explore opportunities in the sector.
The President called for a review of the long-standing practice of relying solely on government for university funding, stressing the need for more sustainable models.
He also encouraged parents, guardians, and alumni to complement government efforts, as practised globally, emphasising the need to strengthen the link between tertiary institutions and industry so that research outputs can be more impactful and commercially relevant.
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