A poll conducted by GetBundi, an online education technology company, has revealed that more than 85% of Nigerian graduates lack digital skills.
The Guardian reported that according to the Chief Executive Officer of the organization, Mr. Osita Oparaugo, the study results suggest that more than 100 million young people are not equipped to take up decent career prospects that demand such current abilities.
“There is a massive digital skills gap in Nigeria, which has been linked to the country’s high unemployment rate.”
“A lack of digital skills has been identified as a major reason why many graduates produced annually from the country’s tertiary institutions are unable to secure employment in the labour market,” he claimed in a statement.
To support his case, Oparaugo stated that a 2023 study performed by GetBundi Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics and Digital Skill Education Technology Company on 100 NYSC members revealed that just 19 of them possessed any type of digital skill.
“The majority of them are active on social media, with 89% having active Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter accounts, and 11% having LinkedIn accounts.”
“At a time when digital skills rule the world, this situation is concerning, though young people are not entirely to blame.
“The education system bears a large portion of the blame.” The school system has been justifiably chastised for failing to keep up with the quickly changing digital landscape.
“The curriculum used in many Nigerian universities and other tertiary institutions is out of date and inadequately covers the practical aspect of relevant digital skills.”
He claimed that the government realized the importance of addressing this issue and has taken initiatives to boost digital literacy and skill development among adolescents.
“Some of the initiatives include coding boot camps, online training platforms, partnerships with technology companies, and digital innovation entrepreneurship programs,” he said.
“These initiatives aim to provide Nigerian youths with opportunities to learn and apply digital skills, thereby increasing their employability and entrepreneurial prospects,” he explained.
“Access to affordable and reliable internet is critical for individuals to acquire and improve digital skills, so we must raise awareness, change mindsets, and emphasize the importance of digital skills in today’s job market and overall societal development.”
He noted that this can help to shift attitudes and encourage individuals, parents, and employers to prioritize digital skill acquisition and support relevant initiatives.
“Individuals should be encouraged to take online courses, attend workshops, and participate in digital activities in order to stay current with evolving technologies and learn new skills.”
Oparaugo stated that GetBundi had designed STEM-related courses for secondary school students based on the West African School Certificate curriculum to solve the digital skills gap in Nigeria and Africa, particularly among Nigerian graduates.
“We also offer digital skills training to equip everyone, young and old, with relevant 21st-century job-ready skills.”
“Our platform also has micro-sliced courses with 107 skilled instructors for impactful learning.”
“In less than six months, individuals can become verified and go remote after learning digital skills such as coding, artificial intelligence, graphics, video editing, cybersecurity, and much more.”
