Stakeholders across Nigeria’s education and agriculture sectors have been urged to prioritise practical skills development as a strategy to tackle rising youth unemployment and persistent capability gaps within the agro-processing industry. The call was made on Thursday in Abuja at a labour market workshop on skills gap analysis, convened under the BEAR III project by UNESCO, with support from the Government of the Republic of Korea.
Speaking at the event, the Head of Office and Representative of UNESCO Abuja, Dr. Jean-Paul Abiaga, represented by Dr. Ifeanyi Ajaegbo, said the initiative is designed to strengthen Nigeria’s agro-processing skills ecosystem and better align education with labour market demands. He explained that identifying skills gaps would support the development of relevant training programmes, improve job readiness, and enhance productivity in an increasingly technology-driven economy.
Abiaga noted that the BEAR III project reflects a shared commitment among stakeholders to build a system in which skills serve as a bridge between potential and employment opportunities. He emphasised that only market-oriented and practical competencies would enable young people to thrive, particularly in an era shaped by artificial intelligence and digital innovation.
“It is only relevant, market-orientated skills that will enable people to thrive in today’s fast-changing world,” he said, adding that the disconnect between classroom learning and industry requirements remains a significant challenge within Nigeria’s labour market.
He further explained that the workshop was structured to inform policy development, strengthen technical and vocational education and training (TVET), and ensure that programmes are aligned with industry needs, particularly in agro-processing.
Also speaking, the Director of Technology and Science Education at the Federal Ministry of Education, Mrs. Patricia Ogungbemi, represented by Mrs. Christiana Obaje, called for increased investment in technical skills development. She urged stakeholders to collaborate more effectively to improve food security and strengthen the agro-processing value chain.
“Our collective focus should be on building a sector that is not just a pillar of Nigeria’s economy, but the backbone of its food security and industrial growth,” she said, noting that technology alone cannot deliver results without a skilled workforce to operate and maintain it.
Ogungbemi stressed the need to move beyond theoretical instruction towards practical, industry-relevant training. “We must ensure that the skills taught in TVET institutions match what is required on factory floors and in processing plants,” she said.
In his remarks, a representative of the Kano State Ministry of Education, Mr. Ibrahim Ado, said the state recognises work-based learning as a critical pathway to bridging the gap between theory and practice. He noted that the government, under the leadership of Governor Abba Yusuf, is committed to repositioning the education sector to meet evolving labour market demands.
“We are strengthening our TVET institutions, promoting partnerships with industry, and aligning education policies with national and global best practice,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Sector Skills Council for Agriculture, Mr. Onallo Akpa, raised concerns about persistent skills shortages in agro-processing and post-harvest management. He disclosed that the council has been organising workshops in Abuja, Kano, and other locations, with support from the Korean government, to identify and address these gaps.
According to him, the initiative also seeks to remove barriers limiting the participation of women, young people, and unemployed persons in the agro-processing sector, as stakeholders continue to pursue sustainable solutions to Nigeria’s unemployment challenge.
