Bridging the engineering skill gap in Nigeria: Preliminary findings and recommendations of the E4I survey

Abstract

The paper presents the key findings and recommendations of an evidence-based survey report on the engineering skill gap among young engineering graduates in Nigeria. The outcome of the study highlighted the lack of technical, problem-solving, research and development, and management skills in the country’s young engineering graduates. Integrating emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, additive manufacturing, virtual reality, computer programming, computer-aided manufacturing, and computer-aided design into the curriculum was strongly recommended for the training of young engineering students in Nigerian higher education institutions. Other recommendations for skill augmentation include; enabling young graduates to develop their optimisation, modelling, simulation, design, creativity, technical, practical, machining, operation, and management skills to boost their hands-on engineering proficiencies. Strong emphasis was also on the importance of a one-year post-graduation internship program to upskill all young engineering graduates and provide a head-start in industrial settings. Lastly, adopting an outcome-based education (OBE) engineering training curriculum was recognised as crucial for addressing the skills gap.