President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has raised concerns over the increasing number of graduates entering the labour market, stressing the importance of university curricula that promote employability, entrepreneurship, and job creation.
The President made the remarks during the 36th Convocation Ceremony of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), Ondo State, highlighting the need for universities to contribute more effectively to national development through cutting-edge research, innovation, and stronger industry collaborations.
Represented at the event by the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Abdullahi Yusufu Ribadu, Tinubu said:
“I must admit that while today’s occasion gives much joy, it is overwhelming to note the number of graduates that are to be added to the labour market. It is, therefore, needful to pay close attention to the relevance of our curricula to employability and job creation.”
He encouraged the graduands to leverage opportunities offered by the administration, applying their skills in technology, agriculture, and entrepreneurship to become self-reliant and make meaningful contributions to national development.
“While it is agreed that the government alone cannot provide direct employment for the teeming graduates of our higher educational institutions, we will continue to create an enabling environment for investments and businesses to thrive,” Tinubu added. “This administration recognises the critical role of science, technology, and innovation in our national development. We are committed to policies that strengthen education, promote research funding, and foster collaborations between universities and industries. Our digital economy agenda, renewable energy initiatives, and infrastructure development open new opportunities for graduates to contribute meaningfully to national growth.”
The President also encouraged graduates to explore opportunities in the agricultural value chain, describing it as a goldmine for jobs and wealth creation.
Highlighting ongoing reforms in the education sector, Tinubu pointed to initiatives including the revitalisation blueprint for university education, increased interventions from TETFund, the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFund), and the recently introduced Tertiary Institutions Staff Support Fund (TISSF), aimed at supporting university workers.
In her address, FUTA Vice-Chancellor, Professor Adenike Temidayo Oladiji, lauded the university’s achievements, noting that FUTA maintained its position among the top 10 universities in Nigeria in the 2025 Times Higher Education ranking. She also highlighted key milestones, including the maiden Colloquium of Tertiary Institutions in Ondo State and the reconfirmation of FUTA’s Department of Meteorology and Climate Science as a World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) Regional Training Centre for another five years.
Earlier, Ondo State Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, represented by Mr. Razaq Obe, Director-General of the Performance and Project Implementation Monitoring Unit (PPIMU), praised FUTA as a global force in technological innovation and a strategic partner in the state’s development agenda.
He commended the university for consistently ranking among Nigeria’s top institutions and producing alumni impacting technology, research, and innovation globally. Highlighting state support, the governor noted the ceding of the former UNIMED facility for the establishment of the FUTA Teaching Hospital.
Governor Aiyedatiwa urged the graduands to uphold integrity, reject corruption, and build their success on hard work and innovation, challenging the Class of 2025 to carry the FUTA legacy into the wider world and contribute positively to Nigeria’s development.
