Lack of Skills Certification Linked to Youth Unemployment, Irregular Migration – Rector
By Ahmed Isah
The Rector of Federal Polytechnic, Damaturu, Dr Ibrahim Bashir, says lack of skills certification is a major factor driving youth unemployment and irregular migration in Nigeria.
Bashir made the assertion on Friday in Damaturu during an interactive session to mark his first year in office.
He said many Nigerians possessed informal skills but were excluded from employment opportunities at home and abroad due to absence of recognised certification.
According to him, countries in Europe and the Middle East place premium value on National Occupational Standards (NOS), which validate competence rather than academic degrees.
He said Saudi Arabia and European countries readily absorbed certified artisans from Asia, while Nigerians undertook dangerous migration routes due to skills mismatch.
Bashir said Nigeria currently had fewer than 20,000 certified quality assurance assessors, compared to over one million in Ethiopia and more than 280,000 in Benin Republic.
He explained that NOS certification levels were already integrated into Nigeria’s public service scheme, with Level 3 equivalent to National Diploma and Level 9 comparable to professorial rank.
The rector said the polytechnic had commenced mainstreaming the informal sector by providing Recognition of Prior Learning and certification for artisans, welders and technicians.
He disclosed that the institution had entered collaborations to train out-of-school children and artisans in cosmetology, vocational trades and entrepreneurship.
Bashir said beneficiaries would be trained, assessed and certified to enhance employability and reduce social vulnerability.
He added that students graduating from the polytechnic would henceforth earn dual certificates combining academic qualifications and occupational certification.
Rajab Isma’il, the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Yobe State Council, said certificates obtained from the institution had enabled him to secure promotions and pursue higher education.
He commended the rector’s emphasis on certification, curriculum relevance and institutional reforms.
Management staff of the polytechnic also praised the rector’s leadership, describing the reforms as capable of changing the narrative of technical education in the state.
