Canadian Council To Tackle Graduate Unemployment In Nigeria

The Canadian Education Council (CEC) has reaffirmed its commitment to addressing the persistent issue of graduate unemployment and employability gaps in Nigeria through partnership with higher education institutions to establish International Career Centres across Nigerian universities.

The council has introduced two transformative initiatives to bridge this gap: the Canadian Internship Test (CIT) and the Canadian Employment License Test (CELT). These tests evaluate graduates’ competencies, work readiness, and alignment with international standards and are tools for vetting and assessing their readiness for career opportunities.

Speaking at a media briefing in Abuja, Dr Adeniyi John, the country director of the Canadian Education Council in Nigeria, emphasised the urgency for Nigerian universities to modernise their approach to career development:

“The CVs will soon be dead: Employers are turning to personality and employability tests, as AI rapidly devalues traditional résumés. By 2028, CVs will be obsolete, the race is on, and Nigerian universities must act now.”

Dr Adeniyi disclosed that the CEC has already partnered with Achievers University, Owo, Wesley University, Ondo, and the University of Ilesa, Osun State, to establish International Career Centres on their campuses. These centres are designed to vet, mentor, and equip students and graduates for local and international career opportunities.

He further revealed that discussions are underway with other notable institutions, including Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Westland University, Iwo, and Oduduwa University, Ipetumodu, among others, to join this national movement through Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs).

By aligning academic output with workforce demands, the CEC’s International Career Centres aim to tackle unemployment and underemployment among youth, ensuring Nigerian graduates are certified but also skilled, competitive, and future-ready.