The Chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC), Prof. Adetunji Olaopa, has emphasized the need for Nigerian universities to focus on producing employable graduates. He made this statement during the 33rd Convocation Lecture of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Ogun State.
Olaopa questioned the essence of education and the responsibility of the university system in preparing youths for the future, saying that many young people are not only unemployed, but increasingly unemployable. “The university system must go beyond producing skilled workers to developing fully formed human beings and responsible citizens,” he stated.
He appreciated the University management for finding him worthy of chairing the programme, describing FUNAAB as a specialised University with a unique divine purpose for the prosperity of Nigeria’s fortune. Olaopa queried the extent to which universities of agriculture have deployed their theoretical, practical, and policy capacities to contribute meaningfully to fixing the national economy and transforming the agricultural value chain.
The Chairman emphasized that universities must embrace cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence, robotics, drones, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and the Internet, to drive smart farming systems and innovative agribusiness models. He noted that universities must adopt sustainability-driven research, innovation hubs, and community-focused solutions that address real-time agricultural challenges, particularly in the rural areas.
Olaopa advocated for the need to deepen university autonomy, allowing it to generate initiative arising from its constitutional mandate and improved funding mechanism through university-industry and public-private partnerships. He also called for a more sustainable approach to managing industrial relations within the academic environment.
He stressed that universities have a critical role to play in driving Nigeria’s economic growth and development. By focusing on producing employable graduates and driving innovation, universities can contribute to the country’s prosperity.
