EU backs Nigeria’s drive to build investor-ready workforce, tackle skills mismatch

The European Union has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Nigeria’s efforts to build a skilled, investor-ready workforce, as the Federal Government intensifies reforms aimed at addressing the country’s persistent skills mismatch and unemployment challenges through a data-driven labour market system.

Speaking at the National Skills and Industry Alignment Roundtable (Q2 Series) on the Role of Data in Job Creation, Coordination and Linkages in Abuja on Tuesday, Massimo De Luca, Head of Cooperation at the EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, said the availability of skilled labour remains a major consideration for investors seeking to do business in Nigeria.

According to him, while the country boasts a vast pool of talented young people, many lack the recognition or appropriate skills required for large-scale investment projects.

“We have a shortage of skilled labour when it comes to big investment projects.

“On the other hand, we have a lot of untapped talent that is not adequately recognised. Those are realities that investors take into account”, De Luca said.

He commended the Office of the Vice President for spearheading reforms designed to strengthen Nigeria’s skills development ecosystem, stressing that the European Union would continue supporting initiatives that improve workforce readiness and attract investment.

The roundtable brought together policymakers, development partners and private sector stakeholders to explore how data can be harnessed to strengthen workforce planning, improve job creation and align skills development with industry needs.

Also speaking, Yemi Kale, Group Chief Economist and Managing Director of Research and Trade Intelligence at African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), said Nigeria’s fragmented labour market data continues to undermine productivity, employment opportunities and economic competitiveness.

Kale, a former Statistician-General of the Federation, described Nigeria’s youthful population as both a significant opportunity and a major responsibility, noting that nearly 70 per cent of Nigerians are below the age of 30.

He argued that harnessing this demographic advantage would require quality education, stronger institutions, increased economic absorption capacity and a coordinated national data architecture capable of connecting job seekers, employers, training institutions and policymakers.

“Across Nigeria today, we have employers that are searching for skill, and at precisely the same time, millions of Nigerians are searching for opportunities they can access,” Kale said.

He observed that universities and training institutions continue to produce thousands of graduates annually, yet businesses across several sectors still struggle to recruit workers with critical technical and vocational skills.

According to him, the challenge is not simply a lack of opportunities or talent but the absence of coordination among stakeholders.

“The problem is that employers are searching, workers are searching, training institutions are searching, policymakers are searching and investors are searching, but they are often searching independently rather than collectively,” he added.

Rimam Nuhu, Special Assistant in the Office of the Vice President on Workforce Development, said the National Council of Skills is developing a national skills database that will provide government with evidence-based intelligence to address skills shortages and mismatches.

Nuhu explained that the database would enable authorities to identify workforce gaps across sectors, improve planning and formulate targeted policies capable of boosting productivity and supporting job creation.

“What this database does is provide government with evidence-based recommendations when it comes to policy regarding skills development. Skills development is an input for job creation,” he said.

He noted that while there is ongoing debate over whether Nigeria faces an outright shortage of skilled workers or simply a mismatch between available skills and market demands, the database would provide the evidence needed to resolve such questions and guide interventions.

According to him, improved workforce planning would ultimately enhance national productivity and contribute to economic growth.

Also speaking, Afolabi Imoukhuede, Strategic Partnership Lead in the Office of the Vice President, said the objective of the roundtable was not to create new policies but to strengthen existing systems through better use of labour market data.

He noted that valuable information already exists across multiple government agencies and institutions but remains trapped in disconnected silos, limiting effective policymaking.

Imoukhuede said the ongoing roundtable series seeks to transform raw data into actionable intelligence capable of forecasting labour market demand, supporting industrialisation and improving Nigeria’s competitiveness.

Similarly, Akubo Adegbe, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Coordination and Delivery, said the meeting was convened to address the fragmentation of labour market information across government institutions and the private sector.

He explained that despite the enormous amount of workforce data generated daily, the absence of coordination has prevented policymakers from obtaining a complete picture of labour market realities.

“If our first roundtable challenged us to better align skills with industry, this second roundtable challenges us to better align information with action,” Adegbe said.