Why many university graduates are jobless

The Rector of Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro, Ogun State, Dr. Olusegun Olanrewaju Aluko, has said that many university graduates can hardly find or create jobs because they lack entrepreneurship skills. Conversely, Aluko said graduates produced by the polytechnics are equipped with skills which give them the upper hand. The rector spoke at a press conference to […]

The Rector of Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro, Ogun State, Dr. Olusegun Olanrewaju Aluko, has said that many university graduates can hardly find or create jobs because they lack entrepreneurship skills.

Conversely, Aluko said graduates produced by the polytechnics are equipped with skills which give them the upper hand.

The rector spoke at a press conference to herald the 40th anniversary and 19th convocation ceremony of the institution. At the twin event slated for October 16, a fellowship award would be conferred on the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi.

Aluko said the unhealthy rivalry between universities and polytechnics was eroding the essence of polytechnic education in Nigeria.

The rector insisted that majority of the polytechnics in the country have lost focus and the essence of their establishment.

According to him, polytechnic graduates and university graduates are not supposed to be competing for the same employment but for the dearth of industries and manufacturing companies in Nigeria which, he stated, further contributed to the unemployment rate in the country.

“The way polytechnic education is structured is for the graduates to be able to use the skills they have acquired to create wealth for themselves but Nigeria is just dodging, but we will still come back to it.

“Those that are unemployed are those that are university graduates and the problem is that they have no skill.

“Majority of the small scale entrepreneurs in the country today are graduates of the polytechnics and that is the essence of polytechnic education,” Aluko further stated.