By Emeka Oluka & Femi Dansu
The Dean, College of Biosciences (COLBIOS), Prof. Iyabode Kehinde, has laid bare the issues of youth unemployment in Nigeria, even as she proposed the way out for the youths.
Tackling the topic, “Leveraging the Triple Helix Model with Competence-Based Teaching to Enhance Employability,” during the FUNAAB Webinar series 016, held on December 4, 2024, Prof. Kehinde highlighted various factors contributing to the problem of unemployment, such as limited job opportunities, skills gaps, and inadequate infrastructure.
The Dean who is also the the Alternate Chairperson, Employability and Benchmarking Committee emphasised the importance of leveraging the Triple Helix model, which involves collaboration between government, academia, and industry to enhance employability. Prof. Kehinde submitted that through competence-based teaching and industry-academic partnerships, she believed that universities could better prepare students for the workforce and bridge the gap between education and employment.
In addition, Prof. Kehinde discussed the role of the Career Services and Linkages Unit (CSLU) and the Centre for Entrepreneurial Studies (CENTS) in students’ educational development and in improving graduate employability.
According to her, by offering resources, mentorship, and networking opportunities, universities can empower students to become successful entrepreneurs and job creators.
She underscored the importance of aligning educational programmes with industry needs and providing students with practical skills that are in demand in the job market.
She, therefore, commended FUNAAB Management for implementing these strategies, adding that if sustained, she believed that FUNAAB graduates would be better equipped to succeed in today’s highly competitive job market.
