“Certificates are licenses to learn; skills create solutions”
Prof. Christian Ezeibe, Dean of Student Affairs at UNN, is urging the Federal Government to prioritise skills over certificates for employment and national development. Speaking at Kogi State Polytechnic’s convocation lecture, he stressed that Nigeria’s industrial and technological growth depends on practical, demonstrable abilities rather than paper qualifications.
Ezeibe noted that while certificates show knowledge, skills drive innovation, problem-solving, and economic progress—especially in the era of AI, robotics, ICT, and biotechnology. He called for a “national skills emergency” and encouraged polytechnics to update curricula every three years, strengthen industry partnerships, and equip graduates with real-world capabilities.
“Without skills, Nigeria’s natural resources remain untapped, and development will remain a mirage,” he warned.
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