The federal government has announced a plan to recruit 3,500 teachers for Unity Colleges across Nigeria. This initiative, revealed by Dr. Yusuf Sununu, the Minister of State for Education, is designed to improve education standards and enhance the quality of learning in Federal Unity Colleges nationwide.
The recruitment process will involve collaboration between the Ministry of Education, the Office of the Head of Service, the Federal Civil Service Commission, and other relevant government agencies. Dr. Sununu highlighted this during the National Stakeholders’ Forum on Senior Secondary Education, a two-day event focused on discussing education policies and reforms in Nigeria.
Dr. Sununu provided more details about the plan, assuring that the Ministry is working closely with various government agencies to fill these teaching positions. “Our goal is to raise educational standards in Federal Unity Colleges,” he said. The recruitment will be supported by comprehensive training and retraining programs for both new and current staff, ensuring that educators are fully prepared to meet students’ needs and enhance educational results.
In addition to this educational initiative, the federal government is addressing unemployment challenges in Nigeria. According to Mrs. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, youth unemployment remains a critical issue, with over 13 million young Nigerians currently unemployed. The unemployment rate increased to 5.0% in the third quarter of 2023, up from 4.2% in the previous quarter. The rates are higher among women, standing at 6.0%, compared to 4.0% among men.
The World Bank has pointed out that limited access to finance and infrastructure is a major barrier to job creation and economic growth in Nigeria. To address this, the federal government has started implementing strategies to generate jobs and reduce extreme poverty. These efforts include providing working tools to beneficiaries and supporting the growth of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to create more job opportunities.
Additionally, the government plans to create 2.5 million jobs through the Labour Employment Enhancement Programme (LEEP), which aims to address hunger, poverty, and promote economic growth through strategic initiatives.
