INCONSISTENCY OF NIGERIAN GRADUATES, AND THE EFFECTS IN THE LABOUR MARKET

By Jasper Chiemeriwo Orisakwe.

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The title of this work is a serious issue that should be looked into, but unfortunately, it has been neglected over the years, even when it is still a problem.

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Inconsistency is the inability of something occurring on a regular tempo. But in this context, We see and define it as the failure of Nigerian graduates to work towards expectation, by showing their academic advantage through output in theory, in character, and in the workplace.

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Education remains the brain behind most successes, even the Bible appreciates it, and wants to work with the educated as evident when it said, “bring me ye that are educated that they may work in my vineyard”.

This acknowledges how paramount education is, and should not be neglected or seen as less important to look into when things are not right. .

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*WHAT IS THE CASE WITH NIGERIA AND HER GRADUATES*?

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According to Nigeria University Commission(NUC) 2018, Nigeria has 43 Federal Universities, 48 State Universities, 79 Private Universities, which adds to 83 Polytechnics, plus 82 Colleges Of Education (22 Federal, 14 Private, and 46 State Colleges of Education) in Nigeria. Making it a total of 335 Higher Institutions in a country of 36 States plus F.C.T.

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In 2017, NUC released list of Schools in Nigeria based on their employability, in %. The first 20 in the list were:

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1. Covenant University, 90%.

2. University of Abeokuta, 84.62%.

3. Obafemi Awolowo University, 83.33%.

4. Federal University of Technology, Akure, 80.78%.

5. University of Ilorin, 77.78%.

6. Ekiti State University, 75%.

7. University of Uyo, 75%.

8. Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye (O. O. U) , 75%.

9. Babcock University, Ilisan Remo, 73.68%.

10. University of Lagos (Unilag),  73.24%.

11. Federal University of Technology, Owerri, 72.73%.

12. University of Portharcourt (Uniport), 65%

13. University of Ibadan (UI), 62.50%.

14. University of Benin (Uniben), 59.09%.

15. Lagos State University(LASU), 58.82%.

16. University of Nsukka(UNN), 56.25%

17. Abia State University (ABSU), 56%

18. University Of Maiduguri, 55%

19. Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka(Unizik), 55%.

20. Ahmadu Bello University, 50%.

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Incredible, right? Visit some of these Schools, there is nothing to right home about, apart from that, the question is, how many of these Institutions with this high percentage rate of employability status, produce graduates that are employable?

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A big country like Nigeria, Federal Polytechnic Nekede, Owerri, is the “number one” Polytechnic in Nigeria by ranking in 2018, a Polytechnic with a very low number of students who graduated from the Institution and competing in the Country’s big spaces, that shows the level of incompetency on the side of Institutions as well.
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For instance, Ekiti State produces the highest number of Professors, not less than 25 Professors are produced in that State yearly, but where are they?  What is their product(s), how competent are they in the labour market, in their field, or in the global arena?

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Another notable problem in Nigeria is lack of good Medical Centers, and good Medical Practitioners. The Secondary data I gathered, Imo State, Anambra State, Delta State, and Enugu State, produces more Medical Students graduating from these States in Nigeria every year. Most of these graduates end up changing Careers in the future after graduation due to lack of confidence in what they have studied, because of how poor it were, while some go ahead with the medical profession, even when a good number of them does not have a very good knowledge of the field.

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The work of “NM Nwakaeze” in 2016, recorded 17,038 registered Hospitals across Nigeria, with less successes in terms of handling serious issues / cases,  because of their level of incompetency in the place of learning and preparation..

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However, data from “Worldmeters” in April 13, 2019., latest release of Nigeria population was “199,810,611, which is equivalent to 2.6% of the total World Population, as validated through United States’ latest estimate.

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And, according to Nigeria academic board Secondary data, not less than 500,000 Nigerian Students graduate from the 335 Higher Institutions approved in Nigeria annually, amazingly! It would have been more amazing if this quantity are to be quality .

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*SINCE NIGERIA HAS MANY HIGHER INSTITUTIONS, AND MANY GRADUATES, WHY ARE MOST OF THEM HALF-BAKED GRADUATES*?

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1.  INSECURITY IN CAMPUS:

    Most Higher Institution Students in Nigeria learn with their “bodies in school, and their minds at home” because, their safety is not guaranteed. The level of Cultism, killing, abuse and street gangs within the campus communities are alarming,  and when Students start feeling pressured, they will definitely miss the aim and objectives of that class.

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Lecturers are not left out as well, when they cannot be guaranteed of their safety, effectiveness and efficiency in giving out their best will be missing.

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2.  LACK OF PROFESSIONALISM ON THE SIDE OF LECTURERS

     Some, or most of these Lecturers are not fit for the job, while some of them lack the intellectual ability and capability to do the job, others are not knowledgeable on the Course, because some got the job out of favouritism, and not through the principle of meritocracy.

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3.  CUTTHROAT FEES AND IMPROMPTU LEVIES

     No Nigeria Higher Institution can boast of free education, in the State or federal level, and the fees on the Students most times take their minds away from learning, as they keep travelling and hustling to escape ultimatum, and meet up to requirements. Because many Nigeria Students train themselves in School, while some others concurrently train their younger ones, with this, Students keep missing that classroom knowledge.

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4.  UNCONDUCIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS

      Especially, Public Higher Institutions like Federal- State Universities and Polytechnics, their learning environments does not help at all, it can affect someone’s health and disturb Students psychosociologically, that’s why Academic Staff Union Of Universities (ASUU) keep asking for money from the FG for revitalization. These includes, noise, bad environment, hot weather resulting to hot lecture halls because of little or no ventilation, bad lecture board, lack of Public address System, low voice of Lecturers, so much Students in a lecture hall, lack of Seats for sitting, etc…

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5.  POOR LEARNING MATERIALS AND LIBRARIES

     Some Textbooks and handouts are not in agreement and alignment with what they Lecturers believe and teaches, it contradicts the mindset and confuse Students, which divide their attention.

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6.  STRIKE ACTIONS

     A Course of 4 years, taking Students 6 years to finish. breaking days and taking Students away from the learning environment for so many weeks and months,  some Students will be discouraged in School after these months of Strike, while some encounter one problem or the other that will shift their mental being towards learning.

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7.  LITTLE OR NO PRACTICAL

     We have so many cases where a Computer Engineering Student will graduate without loosing a Computer, or even seeing a System BIOS battery, A Medical Student graduating without using at least the First Aid Box for once, A Law Student will graduate without visiting a Law Court. All these things are neglected but they are paramount.

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8.  UNNECESSARY AND EXCESSIVE COURSES TO BE STUDIED

    With no much importance to a Course of study which is One’s discipline, a Course or more added to a Discipline is irrelevant. When one is Studying Business, let only Business Courses be taught, so that the Student can focus  on that field, learn it, and know it very well, than borrowing Courses from other fields just to make money through sales of Textbooks and Materials.
Jack of all trade, master of none.

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9.  CORRUPTION

     Students does not fail anymore, provided that the student in question can pay his way out, and that is more reason why there are more half-baked graduates in Nigeria.

Some does not come to school for classes, they send money to the Lectures from their Offices and homes, then they will review their grades, this is appalling.

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10.  NO GUARANTEE OF JOB THROUGH MERIT, SKILL, AND WHAT YOU STUDIED

     In Nigeria, while looking for job, you will be asked “Who sent you” , while in most serious Countries of the world, you will be asked “What can you offer to this Organization”., While the latter is interested in What you can add to the Organization, the skill you have, and the value you can bring to their Organization, which makes Students in those side of the World put in more interest and effort in working hard in their academic pursuit, Nigeria Is interested in Who sent you, which make their Students focus more on who to meet to be placed in a position.

That’s why a Medical Doctor by Profession is seen in Nigeria working as Minister of Works and Agriculture.
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11. LACK OF MOTIVATION:
When a Man works, he deserves his pay. How would you delay or deny a worker his pay? This is one thing that makes good Lecturers turn bad, and bad Lecturers turn worse, while the worse turn worst.
Sadly, this is the case of some if not many Higher Institutions in the Country. Students are always at the receiving end of the implications.

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*THE EFFECTS IN THE LABOUR MARKET*

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When you don’t know what you are expected of you in the workplace, or when you lack the knowledge and the skill to carry out the task assigned to you, there is absolutely nothing you can do right there, or you will do more wrongs than rights in the organization.

That is why fortunate Nigerians travel outside the country for medical attention, and fortunate Families send their Children abroad to study.

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Effectiveness and efficiency, which are two core ingredients in achieving organizational goals and objectives, will go missing in the hands of these graduates.

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In 2016, America released another striking statement against Nigeria Degree Holders, which matches alongside the 2006 statement they issued too. Most Nigeria degree holders are not employable, except few that upped their academic games.

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*CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION*

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 If you have taken online short courses from foreign Higher Institutions, you will notice a world of difference in the way they try to disemminate knowledge compared to our educational system here.
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The courses are well designed in a way that students can flow with the lecturers while they lecture.
The videos are short and straight to the point.
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They even post links to other materials you can read (it’s rare here). Nobody tells you that if you don’t read his material that you can not pass.
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For a short cause of 4-6 weeks, you will see several professors taking different aspects of the course. Mehn you will feel like you are in a classroom on the University campus.
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Assignments, discussion groups, quizzes are all part of the deal.
You get to meet your fellow students from other countries in the world.
A very good place to connect with like minds, and challenge yourself. many of these courses have provisions for scholarships, which is a very big incentive for motivation.
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However, In Africa, we have South-Africa among others who are doing so well academically and economically, with just 26 Public Higher Institutions (2015 records), and we have Canada among others outside Africa, who has one of the best educational systems ,and good economy,  with just 96 Public Higher Institutions (2015 records) , all these Institutions are quality, and concentrates on producing quality graduates.

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That is why it’s hard to compare a Nigerian who studied abroad, with a Nigerian who studied in Nigeria.

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 If Nigeria can form synergy, merge some Schools together, and eliminate most of these negative factors mentioned above, credibility, effectiveness and efficiency will not go missing anymore, also set up entrance examinations and IQ tests,  so that only those with what it takes in the brain can enroll, there shall be notable improvement in the academic sector, which will birth quality and not quantity graduates.

(c)  Jasper Chiemeriwo Orisakwe 2019.