As concerns mount over rising graduate unemployment and the widening skills gap in Nigeria, Veritas University Abuja has launched a N1.3 billion Skills and Innovation Hub designed to equip students with industry-relevant competencies and improve their employability after graduation.
The facility, expected to be completed by January next year, will provide hands-on training in technology, entrepreneurship, fashion design, music, creative arts and innovation, with the university insisting that academic degrees alone are no longer sufficient for success in today’s labour market.
Speaking during the ceremony of the project at the university’s campus, which was performed by the Archbishop of the Abuja Catholic Diocese, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, on Monday, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Hyacinth Ichoku, described the hub as a strategic investment aimed at producing graduates who can create jobs and solve real-world problems.
According to him, the centre will become the university’s main platform for practical learning, where students from different disciplines can develop and refine their talents using modern equipment and digital technologies.
“This is a massive project for us because it is supposed to be the melting pot for all manner of skills in the university. The structure will cost us N1.3 billion. Work has already started, and the contractor is expected to deliver it by the end of January.
“We want students with different talents to come here to develop and showcase their abilities. We are going to equip the centre with the best facilities we can afford because no student should pass through Veritas University without acquiring a skill”, he said.
Ichoku said universities must move beyond awarding certificates to producing graduates with practical competencies that meet the demands of employers and the changing global economy.
“In Veritas, we do not just give students certificates; we also equip them with skills. Skill is the key thing today. If you are a student today and you do not have a skill beyond your certificate, you are going to be in real serious trouble.
“It is not a case of finishing lectures and going back to sleep. Students will go to their creative hubs, work through the night if necessary, and develop solutions to real-life problems. Tomorrow belongs to people with skills.”
The Vice-Chancellor disclosed that the university has partnered with global technology companies, including Cisco and Microsoft, to ensure students graduate with internationally recognised professional certifications alongside their academic degrees.
“In technology, for example, we provide Cisco and Microsoft training, and every student who passes through Veritas will be certified by Cisco and Microsoft. This building is meant to institutionalise what we are already doing,” he said.
He added that the Skills Hub would complement the university’s Innovation and Engineering Centre, enabling students across disciplines to transform ideas into practical solutions through advanced digital tools and innovation.
Ichoku also said the institution organises an annual Skills Boot Week, bringing together experts, innovators and professionals from Nigeria, other African countries and the United Kingdom to mentor students.
“It is not just about what you study in the classroom; it is about your passion. We have seen students studying Medicine, Nursing and other courses building remarkable technology solutions. Education today is also about discovering and developing your talents,” he added.
The VC urged Nigerian youths to reject the growing attraction to fraudulent means of making money, stressing that skills acquisition, innovation and entrepreneurship remain the most sustainable routes to success.
Also speaking, the project’s donor and philanthropist, Dr Josephat Okoye, said his decision to support the initiative was driven by a desire to contribute to the development of future leaders.
“What motivated me is what the good Lord has done for me over the years. I decided that we should continue to move forward, and I found in Veritas University a place where truth is in control. The students, staff and the Vice-Chancellor are doing fantastic work,” he said.
He pledged continued support for the institution’s vision, noting that he has already committed more than N200 million to the project.
“Whatever little I can contribute, with the help of God, I will do to help these young people achieve higher goals in life. These are the future leaders of our country,” Okoye said.
The investment comes amid increasing concerns over graduate employability in Nigeria. According to the National Bureau of Statistics’ latest labour force data, while unemployment has moderated under the revised methodology, underemployment and youth joblessness remain significant challenges. Employers have consistently identified a mismatch between university education and the practical skills required in the workplace.
To address the gap, the Federal Government has intensified efforts to promote technical, vocational education and entrepreneurship.
The Ministry of Education has prioritised Technical and Vocational Education and Training, expanded skills acquisition initiatives and encouraged universities to integrate innovation, digital literacy and entrepreneurship into their curricula as part of broader reforms aimed at producing graduates who can drive economic growth and create jobs rather than depend solely on white-collar employment.
