EMPLOYABILITY

Nigeria’s capacity to employ its own population seems to diminish progressively, despite the country’s quantifiable fiscal ability resulting from the production and sale of Crude oil. However, the challenge remains that we did get into this; by lots of years of economic and social mismanagement and misguided policy; the best product of the educational system flew from the system; and excessive focus on certificate rather than skills. But it dissuades me that many of our graduates still heed this word “Employability” than “Ability”.

Employability is the capability of getting and keeping satisfactory work. It’s about capable of getting and keeping fulfilling work, having the capability to move self sufficiently within the labour market to realize potential through sustainability employment. Employability also depends on the knowledge, skills and attitudes that people possess; importantly the way they use those assets and present them to employers, and the context within which they seek work.

Certainly, your degree will unlock doors but you can’t rely on it alone. It will make you eligible to apply for jobs that specify a graduate applicant, though the subject and your class of degree may also be important to certain employers especially in our kind of environment. But however good your degree class, however relevant your subject to the job that you'll be applying for, it is probable that you will be competing for this job with a set of other graduates who are equally well-qualified academically.

Though a degree is not enough, also passing aptitude test is not enough, but there should be a combination of degree, skills, and attitude to get to the peak of your career. Your degree is not the only key, gets skills, know your skills and also put attitude in place.

Once your degree has unlocked the door, you'll need the right mix of skills, abilities and personal qualities in order to turn the handle and give the door the push that will open it to you. Get the right key and get employed.