Given the alarming rate of unemployment in the Nigeria, especially among graduates, necessitated by the socio-economic reality, the Federal Government efforts towards remedying it is a good step in the right direction. Like the statement of the current Minister of Education, Maruf Tunji Alausa, in relation to the subject under discourse below: “The world is changing rapidly. Technology is reshaping industries, and many traditional jobs are disappearing. Even as new opportunities emerge, if we do not prepare our young people adequately, we risk widening the gap between education and employability,” The statement was made during the launch of the EIBIC Programme.
The Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Business Incubation Certificate (EIBIC) programme is an initiative of the Federal Government of Nigeria launched in March 2026, which is facilitated or administered by the Federal Ministry of Education, aimed at equipping tertiary institutions students with vocational skills that will make them become enterprising and self-employed before and after graduation. At the end of the students' programme duration in school, they are expected to earn double certificates (degree and vocational certificates) as it is designed to run side by side, which will indeed, provide them an edge in the labour market - in order to bring down the rate of graduates unemployment. The programme basically, is designed to marry or interwoven education with entrepreneurship to unlock potential and build capacity of students of federal tertiary institutions in Nigeria on entrepreneurial initiatives, as a way of responding to the present socio-economic reality, through attitudinal re-orientation which will enable a change in the ways of thinking and doing things.
EIBIC Programme is an effective response to the changing reality in the socio-economic setting of Nigeria. When this new attitude is fully adapted to, which will affect career choice or preference, not narrowing it down to formal and paid employment, popularly referred to as 'white collar jobs', in offices or secretariats. The orientation alone, not to talk of the entrepreneurial skills, can spur the students to speedily come to terms with the current situation, and respond effectively by adapting or adjusting to changes rapidly.
As the education minister pointed out above, about technology reshaping industries, traditional jobs disappearing, while new opportunities have emerged, painting a clear picture of, not only 'white collar jobs being fashionable, but 'other collar jobs', against the backdrop of colonial heritage in terms of attitude of Nigerians, especially graduates, towards employment. High rate of unemployment has become a serious factor in responding effectively by government to the existing socio-economic reality. That is why relevant stakeholders should key in, to harness the emerging opportunities. Entrepreneurship becomes that new socio-economic orientation.
It is the demand of the time which all and sundry must key in, to stamp out the colonial attitude exhibited by Nigerians towards education and employment, and also, to stamp out unemployment in Nigeria, especially among graduates.