UNESCO reiterates commitment to skills development, tackling youth unemployment

Dr Jean-Paul Abiaga, Head of Office/Representative of UNESCO Office Abuja, has emphasised the need for stakeholders in Nigeria’s education sector to prioritise skills development among youths to help tackle unemployment gaps in the agricultural sector.

Abiaga, represented by Dr Ifeanyi Ajaegbo, National Programme Officer on Culture, UNESCO, disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja, at the Labour Market Workshop focused on skills gap analysis in the Agro-Processing Sector under the BEAR III project in Nigeria.

According to him, the BEAR III project is implemented by UNESCO with the generous support of the Government of the Republic of Korea.

Abiaga said, “We are united by shared goal of strengthening Nigeria’s agro-processing skills ecosystem and that is why we are here today. Your presence reflects the collaborative spirit that is essential to achieving this meaningful and sustainable outcome, especially through skills that are the bridge between potential and opportunity. It is only relevant market-orientated skills that will enable people thrive in today’s fast-changing world, a world ruled by AI, technology, digital interventions.”

According to him, by identifying where this gap exists, we can prepare in more effective ways, design responsive training programmes and strengthen the link between education and employment.

“This is critical for Nigeria, where there is a huge gap between what we are taught in classrooms and what is needed in the field out there, particularly in the labour market,” he added.

He explained that the objective of the workshop to centered on shaping policy legislation and implementation in agro-processing, ensuring TVET programmes are responsive, ready for the future and aligned with industry needs.

Speaking at the event, Mrs. Patricia Ogungbemi, Director, Technology and Science Education, Federal Ministry of Education, underscored the need for adequate investment in technical skills teaching and learning, to achieve targets.
Ogungbemi, represented by Mrs. Christiana Obaje, Deputy-Director in the ministry, urged participants at the workshop to work more closely with each other to boost food security.

“Our collective focus should be more on creating a sector that is not just pillar of Nigeria’s economy, but the very backbone of its food security and industrial growth, particularly Agro-Processing. As we look at the current landscape of agriculture post-harvest management, we recognise a fundamental truth that technology is only as powerful as the hands that operate it. Our mission is move beyond theoretical science and transition into applied industrial competence. we cannot train in a vacuum. We must ensure skills cultivated in TVET institutions are exact skills required by the factory floors and processing plants of today and tomorrow,” she said.

On his part, representatives of the Kano State Ministry of Education, Ibrahim Ado, said Kano recognised WBL as critical pathway for bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical industry skills with with its large youth population and growing economic activities, especially in agriculture and agro-processing.

“The State Government under the leadership of Abba Yusuf, remains fully committed to repositioning the education sector, to respond to the demands of the labour market. In this regard, we are strengthening our TVET institutions, promoting partnerships with industry and aligning our education policies with national priorities and global best practices,” he said.

Mr. Onallo Akpa, Chairman, Sector Skills Council for Agriculture (SSC4A), expressed concern over skills lacking in terms of agriculture-processing and post-harvest management.

According to him, this has taken us organising various workshops in Abuja, Kano and today KRIVET with the support of the Korean government in supporting afri-processing to promote understanding about the gaps. Such as gaps hindering participation of women, youth and unemployed in agro-processing.