TECHNICAL AND VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AS A STRATEGY FOR REDUCING UNEMPLOYMENT IN NIGERIA IN THE 21ST CENTURY

Abstract

The issue of unemployment is a big development problem in Nigeria, especially among the youth, as their entry into the labour market is hindered by poor linkages between schools and jobs, low levels of work experience, and lack of adequate enterprise support and technological developments. This conceptual paper discusses about the role of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) as a strategy to address unemployment in the 21st century in Nigeria. Adopting a narrative desk-review approach, the paper will rely on recent scholarly publications that have appeared since 2020 and policy documents and institutional materials published primarily between 2020 and 2026. Anchored by Human Capital Theory and Skills-Mismatch perspective. The paper suggests potential avenues for TVET to support employment generation by developing occupational skills, apprenticeship, entrepreneurship and self-employment, work-based learning, digital competence and enhanced school-industry relationships. The employment value of TVET however, hinges on the quality, relevance and recognition of the skills gained, not on enrollment. Existing equipment, lack of funds for these initiatives, industry linkages that are not strong, inadequate training for teachers, the social perception of vocational education as less important than university education, split skills programmes, weak graduate access to finance and a lack of soft and digital skills. The paper recommends curriculum updating, competency-based training, provision of more apprenticeships, industry involvement, effective implementation of the Nigerian Skills  Qualifications Framework, incorporation of digital and green-skills, facilitation of  entrepreneurship growth, career guidance, equitable participation and systematic tracking of graduates' subsequent experiences. The paper concludes that TVET need to be moved out of its niche as a residual educational programme to its place in the framework of Nigeria's employment, productivity and economic diversification policy.