Higher Education and Youth Empowerment in Nigeria: A Review of Skill Development Initiatives

Authors

Abstract

Nigeria faces a paradoxical challenge: a rapidly growing youth population with rising educational attainment coexists with persistently high unemployment rates, currently estimated at 53.4 percent among young people. This article provides a comprehensive review of skill development initiatives within Nigeria's higher education system, examining policy frameworks, implementation strategies, and outcomes. Drawing on recent government reports, peer-reviewed studies, and development organization publications (2024–2026), the analysis reveals that Nigeria has established a robust policy architecture for skills development, including compulsory entrepreneurship education, the National Graduate Employability Framework, and the revitalized Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) system. However, significant implementation gaps persist: entrepreneurship education curricula face challenges of objective multiplicity and inadequate evaluation mechanisms; TVET suffers from underfunding and low societal valuation; and digitalization efforts encounter infrastructure constraints. Recent initiatives, including the Nigerian Youth Academy (NiYA), the TVET stipend program reaching over 42,000 students, and the ILO-supported skills reform dialogue, demonstrate renewed political commitment. The article concludes with evidence-based recommendations for policy coherence, stakeholder coordination, and sustainable financing to bridge the gap between educational outputs and labour market demands.

Keywords

Higher education, youth empowerment, skill development, entrepreneurship education, TVET, & graduate employability

DOI

10.0000/wijamssae.v1i1.4

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