Fresh Graduates Need Training Not Jobs

In Nigeria, there's a common pattern most graduates follow. From primary to secondary to tertiary institutions and, then, to the compulsory National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) Scheme - without which getting a good job becomes an impossibility.

After NYSC, the next thing on the minds of both Nigerian graduates and their parents is getting a good job. This is not outrightly wrong but has some wrong in it.

Given that majority of fresh graduates possess little or no work experience, it is not expected that such graduates come to the job market with something to offer beyond the head knowledge gained while in school.


The fact is, schooling is not sufficient without some additionally honed skills. Even medical students, after undergoing 6years of schooling still have to undergo an extra one year of internship before full absorption by the health industry. More so, Law graduates are mandated to do an extra one year, after their regular 5 years undergraduate program. All these and more supports my claim that fresh graduates need training and not jobs.

Schooling gives head knowledge while training gives skills; skills are what most employers look out for in their potential staff. Little wonder most graduates do not get jobs early enough after completing NYSC till they've gained sufficient skills.

Schooled education minus self-education makes one almost irrelevant.

You don't have to look down on an unemployed graduate who has stayed home without a job. What you should do is motivate such to gain relevant skills. The more advanced skills gained the more salary expectation you can have and vice versa.

Therefore, let the mentality be adjusted. Skill acquisition, training, internships and the likes, should be given priority over getting a fat salary job because, in this 21st-century, schooled education minus self-education makes one almost irrelevant.

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