NITDA DG, Education Minister Push Skills-Based Learning Over Exam Success
The Federal Government has called for a decisive shift from examination-focused education to skills-based, lifelong learning as Nigeria positions its youth for the future of work.
The call was made by the Director-General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, and the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, at a gathering of Cisco Networking Academy instructors in Abuja.
Kashifu illustrated the point with his personal story, recalling how after his NYSC in 2003 he was stuck moving files in a government company.
“When I asked to build a website for the organisation, I was told there was no budget. I offered to pay for the domain and hosting from my NYSC allowance. I built the site, included my contact details, and was soon hired by another company that paid me $1,500 in 2004. From that moment, I never struggled for work again,” he recounted.
He warned that the world of work is changing fast, noting that more than 60 per cent of today’s jobs did not exist 60 years ago.
“According to the World Economic Forum, the world could see about 170 million new jobs by 2030 while roughly 92 million roles may disappear. Technology will not simply replace people; it will transform how work is done,” he said.
He added that by 2030, nearly 39 per cent of tasks will demand different abilities, stressing that “Artificial Intelligence can already write code more efficiently than many humans, so the focus must shift to critical thinking and problem-solving.”
“Passing an exam is one thing, but critical thinking, complex problem-solving and the ability to adapt are the most important skills,” he said, urging instructors to teach competence, not just how to pass tests.
He praised President Tinubu’s appointment of Alausa, saying he has advanced reforms sought for over two decades, including a new digital skills curriculum for primary and secondary schools and integration of digital literacy into university general studies.
“Nigeria’s greatest resource is not its minerals but its human capital,” Abdullahi said, noting that Cisco Academies now operate in almost all federal universities and number over 369 nationwide.
Minister Alausa reinforced the message, declaring: “What we are doing now is not just teaching to learn. It is teaching to work.”
He said government is prioritising STEMM, TVET and digital literacy, stressing that technology is changing how people learn and work and that girls, persons with disabilities and rural learners must have equal access.
He disclosed that with the NCC, government has secured zero-rated data for learning platforms like Learning Passport and called for expansion of Cisco Academies to colleges of education and technical colleges, urging youths to “seize the opportunity… and use your skills to solve real problems in your communities.”
