Nigerian graduates not unemployable – UI Don declares 

A former Dean of Faculty of Economics and Management Sciences at University of Ibadan, Professor Surajudeen Bankole has declared that contrary to insinuations, Nigerian graduates are employable. 

Bankole explained that the notion that Nigerian graduates are unemployable is not correct. 

He said that Nigerian graduates who many believe are not employable are the ones excelling and leading their peers in other countries. 

Bankole made these declarations at the 2025 NextGen-Ideate cohort graduation organised to improve the capacity of fresh graduates at the institution. 

The Don said the belief of some employers of labour that the majority of Nigerian graduates are unemployable is wrong.

He noted, “I cannot support the saying that Nigerian graduates are unemployable. They are saying it maybe because of the proliferation of higher institutions or because we are not producing enough teachers to mount those institutions. 

“Because when we say non-employable, it means they cannot even employ you at all. Some of the graduates they are saying that they are not employable are those who go out of the country and excel. They are saying that maybe it is just to cover up their own failure. The government needs to be realistic. 

“If you look at the ranking in Africa, we have a lot of Nigerian universities there. In Africa ranking and world ranking. UI is number one in Nigeria. So, we should not make a general statement on Nigerian graduates. When you say that, then you are pointing accusing fingers at us that we are not doing our work despite the fact that we see a lot of them excelling and coming back to give back to the institutions. If they are not employable, they will not be excelling. It is because they value what they have learnt. 

“So, in response to those who are saying that Nigerian graduates are unemployable is that the employers also need to increase their budget. Because we are all there to produce the materials, if we have done our own, they too should also do their own.” 

The Programme Director, Dr Tunji Owoseni in his remark, explained that the programme is an opportunity to unlock potentials among fresh graduates in the institution.