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United Nigeria Airlines Chairman Urges Universities to Prioritise Skills over Certificates
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Published 10/21/2026 7:27:01 AM
United Nigeria Airlines Chairman Urges Universities to Prioritise Skills over Certificates – THISDAYLIVE
Gbenga Sodeinde in Ado Ekiti
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of United Nigeria Airlines, Professor Obiora Okonkwo, has called on Nigerian universities to urgently overhaul their academic system by placing greater emphasis on practical skills, innovation and entrepreneurship rather than the mere acquisition of certificates.
Okonkwo said the country’s higher education institutions must produce graduates equipped with competencies that address real-world challenges, improve employability and drive national development.
He made the call on Tuesday while delivering the 14th Convocation Lecture of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), titled “Functional Education and the Nigerian Project: Strategic Human Capital Development for National Renewal,” at the Alfa Belgore Multipurpose Hall, Ado-Ekiti.
According to him, the relevance of education should no longer be measured by the number of certificates awarded but by graduates’ ability to solve problems, create value and contribute meaningfully to economic growth.
He advocated a transition from content-based teaching to competency-driven learning that develops critical thinking, creativity, digital literacy, entrepreneurship, ethical leadership and practical problem-solving abilities.
Okonkwo stressed that government and universities must invest more in technical and vocational education, modern laboratories, engineering workshops, research facilities and other infrastructure capable of exposing students to practical experiences relevant to their professions.
The United Nigeria Airlines chairman also urged stronger collaboration between universities, industries and government to ensure academic programmes remain aligned with labour market realities and emerging economic opportunities.
He said such partnerships would provide students with practical workplace experience before graduation, enhance their employability and stimulate indigenous innovation and technology development.
Highlighting United Nigeria Airlines’ collaboration with ABUAD, Okonkwo said students of the university’s Aeronautical and Aerospace Engineering programme currently undergo six months of industrial training at the airline’s engineering facility in Lagos, where they receive hands-on experience in aircraft maintenance, avionics, aviation safety and professional engineering practice.
He challenged more private sector organisations to establish similar partnerships through internships, apprenticeships, research collaborations and technology transfer initiatives.
Okonkwo further called on universities to commercialise research outputs, stressing that higher institutions should move beyond knowledge generation to producing practical solutions capable of addressing Nigeria’s developmental challenges.
Responding, Founder of ABUAD, Aare Afe Babalola (SAN), said the lecture reinforced his long-held concern over the disconnect between university education and the practical skills graduates require after leaving school.
Babalola urged the Federal Government to review university curricula to ensure graduates acquire professional competencies capable of making them job creators rather than job seekers.
He also advocated stricter regulatory measures in the approval of private universities, insisting that licensing authorities should conduct thorough physical inspections to verify the availability of adequate infrastructure before granting operational licences.
The legal icon disclosed that he had constituted a panel comprising eight vice-chancellors to recommend additional measures for strengthening ABUAD’s academic standards.
Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor of ABUAD, Professor Smaranda Olarinde, described the convocation lecture as a timely platform for examining how education can better develop the skills, character and innovative capacity required for Nigeria’s sustainable development.
She commended Okonkwo and United Nigeria Airlines for supporting practical education through their partnership with the university and called for sustained collaboration between academia and industry to produce graduates capable of meeting the demands of the modern economy.
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Jobberman Nigeria, Nigeria’s leading career development and recruitment solutions company, has launched ‘Her Next Move’, a campaign designed to empower young Nigerian women with practical skills and confidence to pursue career opportunities and participate more fully in the workforce.
Through free online training, the initiative supports women aged 18 to 35 as they prepare to enter the workplace, advance into better roles or explore freelance and gig work.
Built around the message ‘Your Future. Your Skills. Your Move’, the campaign places female inclusion at the centre of career development, encouraging women to take an active role in shaping their professional futures. It connects the ambition to progress with an accessible starting point: learning skills that can help women prepare for their next opportunity.
‘Her Next Move’ recognises that career progress looks different for every woman. For a graduate, it may mean preparing for a first job. For a woman already working, it may involve developing the skills to take on greater responsibility or pursue a new role. For another, it may mean understanding how to navigate freelance work and participate in the global gig economy. The campaign brings these aspirations together through a shared emphasis on learning, preparation and action.
This Initiative by Jobberman in partnership with Mastercard Foundation promotes two courses: Jobberman Soft Skills Training and Becoming a Successful Global Gig Worker. Both courses are free, with a free certificate upon successful completion.
Jobberman Soft Skills Training focuses on workplace readiness, helping participants build the professional skills needed to navigate work and prepare for career progression. Becoming a Successful Global Gig Worker introduces participants to the demands and opportunities of freelance and gig work, supporting women interested in exploring career paths beyond traditional employment.
By making the training and certification available at no cost, ‘Her Next Move’ reduces the financial barrier to participation and encourages more young women to invest in their professional development. Its focus extends from raising awareness of learning opportunities to helping participants follow through and complete their chosen course.
To bring the campaign to life, Jobberman is working with young creators who are sharing personal stories about ambition, career transitions and the role of learning in their journeys. Through videos, social media posts and follow-up conversations, the creators encourage young women to reflect on their own goals and identify the practical steps they can take towards them.
These stories are intended to make career development relatable, connecting everyday aspirations with opportunities to learn. Across the campaign, the question “What is your next move?” invites women to define progress for themselves and begin preparing for it.
‘Her Next Move’ reinforces Jobberman’s and Mastercard Foundation’s commitment to supporting career development and expanding access to learning for young Nigerian women. By combining free skills training with relatable storytelling and encouragement to take action, the campaign seeks to help more women feel prepared to pursue their ambitions.
