The group said the country’s education system must be assessed not simply by the number of students enrolled or certificates awarded, but by how effectively it equips learners with capabilities that improve productivity and respond to the evolving demands of the economy.
The Lead, Human Capital Development Thematic Group of the NESG Community of Practice on Youth, Oluwatobi Oseni, made the call at a pre-summit dialogue themed, “Future-proofing Nigerian Education.”
Oseni said the disconnect between education and the labour market had become a major human capital challenge, with shortcomings at one stage of the education system often creating difficulties at subsequent stages.
“He stressed that the effectiveness of the education system should be measured not only by the number of certificates awarded, but by whether learners acquire the capabilities required to contribute meaningfully to national productivity,” a statement issued by the group said.
Describing the situation as a “broken education pipeline,” Oseni said addressing Nigeria’s human capital challenges would require coordinated interventions covering the entire education and employment journey.
According to him, such interventions must begin with foundational learning and extend through secondary and tertiary education, skills development and the eventual transition of young people into productive employment.
He said weaknesses at different levels of the system were compounding one another, pointing to the country’s large population of out-of-school children, inadequate foundational literacy and numeracy, declining examination outcomes and the difficulties many young people face in moving from education into productive work.
The concerns come amid growing attention to the relationship between the quality of education and the ability of young Nigerians to participate effectively in an economy that is changing rapidly.
For the NESG, the challenge therefore extends beyond expanding access to education. It also involves ensuring that learners acquire relevant knowledge, practical skills and capabilities that can translate into improved productivity and employment opportunities.
The pre-summit dialogue was organised ahead of the 32nd Nigerian Economic Summit and brought together stakeholders from government, educational institutions, the private sector and development organisations.
Participants examined issues surrounding education quality and access, skills development, curriculum, teaching and learning, as well as the ability of graduates and other young people to transition successfully into employment.
Chair of the NES#32 Central Organising Committee, Ozofu Ogiemudia, said efforts to build a future-ready education system must address the entire education pipeline rather than focus on isolated challenges.
She said attention was needed across foundational learning, access to tertiary education, curriculum development, teaching quality, skills acquisition and the transition from education to employment.
Ogiemudia also urged stakeholders to move beyond repeatedly identifying the challenges confronting the education sector and instead concentrate on solutions that can be implemented at scale and supported with sustainable financing.
She called for clear responsibilities and measurable commitments to ensure that proposed reforms translate into tangible improvements across the education system.
The NESG dialogue thus placed emphasis on the need for stronger coordination among government, schools, businesses, development partners and other stakeholders, particularly in ensuring that education outcomes are aligned with the skills requirements of Nigeria’s changing economy.
At the centre of the discussion was the question of whether Nigeria’s education system is adequately preparing young people not merely to obtain qualifications, but to acquire the capabilities required to participate productively in the workforce and contribute to national development.