KEY POINTS

• Vice President Kashim Shettima called for stronger partnerships between universities and industries to improve graduate skills.
• Shettima reacted to Moniepoint CEO Tosin Eniolorunda’s claim that Nigeria lacks enough globally competitive professionals.
• The vice president also praised AUN for graduating 12 former Chibok schoolgirls abducted by Boko Haram in 2014.

Vice President Kashim Shettima has called on Nigerian universities and industry leaders to strengthen collaboration in order to better prepare graduates for the demands of the global digital economy.

Speaking at the 2026 graduation ceremony of the American University of Nigeria (AUN), Shettima said the recent debate sparked by comments from a fintech executive should serve as a wake-up call for Nigeria’s education sector.

Although he did not mention him directly, the vice president was referring to Moniepoint Chief Executive Officer, Tosin Eniolorunda, who recently stated that Nigeria lacks enough globally competitive skilled professionals.

Eniolorunda had disclosed that Moniepoint had struggled to fill about 500 vacancies since 2025 because many applicants did not meet international standards.

The fintech executive’s comments generated mixed reactions among Nigerians, with some agreeing that the country faces a growing skills gap caused by weak educational systems and brain drain, while others argued that companies fail to offer competitive salaries and structured talent development opportunities.

Responding to the controversy, Shettima acknowledged the need for improved capacity development for Nigerian graduates but maintained that the country is not lacking in talent.

Represented at the event by the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Professor Abdullahi Ribadu, the vice president said Nigerian professionals are simply responding to global market realities.

“Some of the pushback that followed was legitimate. Compensation structures, currency pressures and the reality that Nigerian engineers now command global opportunities were part of it. The talent is not absent. In many ways, it’s just responding to rational market signals,” he stated.

He urged universities to build structured partnerships with fintech companies and emerging industries to create sustainable talent pipelines for the economy.

FG Pursuing Education Reforms, Says VP

Shettima also encouraged graduates to focus on solving Nigeria’s challenges in areas such as technology, healthcare, agriculture, research, public service, and the creative industry.

According to him, the Federal Government is implementing reforms aimed at aligning Nigeria’s education system with modern labour market demands.

He said the reforms under President Bola Tinubu’s administration include improving institutional accountability, expanding access to education, and integrating digital and artificial intelligence-focused learning into national policies.

The vice president also commended the American University of Nigeria for graduating 12 former Chibok schoolgirls abducted by Boko Haram in 2014.

He described the achievement as proof of the transformative power of education and praised the university for supporting the students’ rehabilitation and reintegration.

Shettima urged other universities across the country to emulate the institution’s approach toward supporting victims of conflict and insecurity.