CRITICAL ROLES OF TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS IN PRODUCING EMPLOYABLE GRADUATES, INVENTORS, AND JOB CREATORS IN NIGERIA

Abstract

This chapter examined the critical roles of tertiary institutions in producing employable graduates, inventors, and job creators in Nigeria. It highlighted the growing concern over graduate unemployment and the mismatch between skills acquired in tertiary institutions and labour market demands. The chapter argued that tertiary institutions must go beyond their traditional roles of knowledge transmission to focus on skill acquisition, innovation, and entrepreneurship development. Key roles discussed include curriculum relevance and periodic review, emphasis on practical and experiential learning, promotion of entrepreneurship education, strengthening of research and innovation capacity, industry academia collaboration, and the development of soft skills and work ethics. The chapter established that when these roles are effectively performed, tertiary institutions can significantly contribute to manpower development, economic growth, and national self-reliance. The chapter concludes that repositioning tertiary education is essential for producing graduates who are capable of meeting contemporary economic realities in Nigeria.