Unemployability is a derivative of the word unemployable, which is defined according to Oxford Dictionary as referring to a person, not likely or able to get a paid employment due to a lack of skills or qualifications. A graduate was also defined as someone who has completed a course of study or training especially a person who has been awarded an undergraduate or first degree.

To carve a way forward, sincere answers must be provided to the following questions. How can someone who had undergone training be unemployable? Is the problem of unemployability attributable, to the graduate or his training? My answer to the second question which also provides answer to the first is that both the students and his training are to be blamed. There have been many discussions by academics and non-academics on this subject and one factor they all seem to agree on is the low standards of the Nigerian academic system. This low standard is occasioned by the lack of necessary amenities at the various levels of education. In cases where they are found the state of deterioration makes it practically impossible for any meaningful impartation of knowledge to take place. It is also a well known fact that the curriculum used in many of the nations higher institution needs a review in order to fit into the current situation of the country. One would now be tempted to ask, how then is a student to be blamed? In answer to that I will draw attention to the concept of exam mal practice. Granted, there is a lot that needs to e changed about Nigeria’s educational system but there is also a lot that needs to be changed about the student. Imagine a case where a student goes into an exam hall carrying prohibited materials or a parent that influences school officials to favor his ward sometimes above those with merits. Who else but the student is to be blamed for passing the exams without learning what he was supposed to have learnt at that stage.

Having identified inadequate training due to lack of facilities, corruption and student’s laziness as reasons why Nigerian universities, produce unemployable graduates, it is now time for a way forward to be proffered. In my opinion the following, would do a great deal of good in raising the quality of graduates produced in Nigeria.

It commonly said that charity begins at home, so if there is going to be any meaningful progress parents and guardians should start instilling moral values in their wards more by action than words. A good and effective leader, leads by example.
The curriculum, at the various levels should be reviewed to include and make compulsory more practical courses like entrepreneurship.

Efforts should be intensified towards the investigation and prosecution of anyone who aids or engages in exam mal practice. It is now common place for jamb to announce every year that a particular number of students were caught in exam mal practice after which no body will ever hear about the students. I am of the view that if the prosecution and sentence of these culprits is aired it will serve as deterrent to potential culprits. If these few suggestions are religiously implemented much would be achieved towards the production of better equipped graduates.

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