Universities must focus on skills over certificates

Nigerian universities and polytechnics need to move past certificate-driven education. Institutions must produce skilled graduates who can create jobs. Professor Obiora Okonkwo shared this view at the convocation lecture at Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti. He called on the government to prioritise practical competencies, technical education, entrepreneurship, and digital literacy. Graduates must translate knowledge into productive ventures. Nigeria should learn from Singapore, South Korea, and Taiwan. Universities should act as centres of innovation where research findings turn into marketable products. Institutional performance should be measured by graduate employability rather than enrolment figures.