Minister for Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, has restated the need for practical skill acquisition among Nigerian youths, saying academic certificates alone are no longer sufficient in today’s labour market.

The minister made this call during Channels Television’s Youth Forum 2026 on Friday, where he noted that many young Nigerians pursue higher education merely to obtain degrees without developing the practical competencies required to thrive in the modern workforce.

“One of the things I have always emphasised is skill development. Certificates alone may not be what is needed,” Olawande said.

“You would discover that a lot of people going to school today are just going to school to become graduates. The skill gap should be addressed at the root of the matter,” he added.

The minister expressed concern over the unrealistic salary expectations among some graduates, linking the trend to inadequate career orientation and poor exposure to entrepreneurship and vocational skills.

“I was watching before the programme (Channels Television’s Youth Forum 2026) started, and some youths were asked how much they would like to receive as a salary after graduation. I saw some say ₦1 and another say ₦3 million,” he stated.

“When you ask them how they intend to earn that money, and they say through the civil service, then you understand why skill development is important,” he added.

Olawande also identified limited access to education as one of the major challenges facing Nigerian youths, while commending the Federal Government’s Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFund) initiative for expanding opportunities for students across the country.

“One of the major problems youths face in this country is access to education for those who genuinely want to be educated,” he said.

“NELFund is one initiative that has impacted Nigeria positively. No student should drop out of school again because he or she cannot afford to pay school fees.”

The minister further highlighted the transition challenges many young Nigerians encounter after graduation and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), particularly among youths in the informal sector.

He, however, said he was optimistic about the capacity and resilience of Nigerian youths, insisting that they possess the energy and creativity needed to drive national development if properly engaged.

“I strongly believe that Nigerian youths are not the problem. They have the spirit, and they have the solutions, provided they are engaged properly,” Olawande said.

(Channels TV)