Nigeria: Ghanaian President - Govts Must Not Shift Unemployment Burden to Graduates

Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama's address at the University of Offa's maiden convocation in Kwara State, Nigeria, delivered a potent message regarding the shared responsibility for tackling youth unemployment across Africa. His remarks underscored a fundamental shift in perspective, moving away from the traditional narrative that places the entire burden of job creation on individual graduates. Instead, Mahama articulated a comprehensive approach, emphasizing that while graduates must indeed cultivate entrepreneurial skills and adapt to technological advancements, governments bear the primary responsibility for cultivating an environment where such initiatives can genuinely flourish. This includes ensuring stable institutions, robust infrastructure, and an education system that is responsive to the demands of the modern economy.

John Dramani Mahama

President Mahama, represented by his Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, articulated a vision where the certificate obtained by graduates is merely a foundational step, not the ultimate goal. He stressed the imperative for young people to develop skills in problem identification, solution devising, and value creation, rather than passively seeking paid employment based solely on their academic qualifications. This perspective is particularly relevant in an era defined by rapid technological change, including the rise of Artificial Intelligence and digital technologies, which are fundamentally reshaping global professions and markets. Mahama's call for graduates to embrace technology responsibly and intelligently, combining human judgment, creativity, and integrity with technological prowess, reflects a forward-thinking approach to workforce development.

However, a crucial aspect of his message was the firm assertion that encouraging graduate innovation should not absolve governments of their core duty to address unemployment. He explicitly stated that governments must provide the necessary conditions for businesses to grow and generate decent jobs, warning against the paradox of promoting entrepreneurship without offering access to finance, infrastructure, and market opportunities. This highlights a critical policy gap in many African nations, where rhetoric about youth entrepreneurship often outpaces tangible support mechanisms, leaving young innovators without the essential tools to succeed.

University of Offa

The maiden convocation of the University of Offa served as the platform for President Mahama's significant address, marking a milestone for the institution itself. Vice-Chancellor Professor Kazeem Alagbe Gbolagade reported that the university produced 140 graduands, with eight achieving First Class honours. The university, licensed in 2021 and commencing academic activities in 2022, has demonstrated rapid growth, expanding from two faculties and 10 programs to four faculties and 17 programs, with further plans for expansion into fields like Law and Public Health. This growth, attributed to an emphasis on academic excellence, adherence to its academic calendar, and a focus on information technology and entrepreneurship, positions the University of Offa as a potential model for higher education in the region.

Notably, the university is actively supporting its students by helping them register businesses with the Corporate Affairs Commission and plans to introduce start-up grants for graduates. These initiatives directly align with President Mahama's call for integrating entrepreneurship and digital skills into academic programs, moving beyond merely producing examination-passers to fostering job creators. However, the Vice-Chancellor also highlighted significant challenges, particularly inadequate infrastructure, appealing for support to develop essential facilities like student accommodation, a library complex, and lecture theatres. This underscores the broader need for sustained investment in educational institutions to enable them to effectively prepare graduates for the demands of the 21st-century economy.

African Continental Free Trade Area

A key component of President Mahama's advice to graduates was to look beyond national borders for business opportunities, specifically citing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). He encouraged graduates to view Africa and beyond as their market, urging them to build businesses, institutions, solutions, and bridges between people and ideas across the continent. The AfCFTA, a landmark agreement aimed at creating a single market for goods and services across Africa, represents an unprecedented opportunity for young entrepreneurs to scale their ventures and access a much larger consumer base. By reducing tariffs and non-tariff barriers, AfCFTA facilitates intra-African trade, potentially unlocking significant economic growth and job creation.

Mahama's emphasis on leveraging AfCFTA is a strategic call to action, encouraging a pan-African entrepreneurial mindset. He stressed that Africa would advance faster through cooperation, urging universities, businesses, and young people in Ghana and Nigeria, and by extension across the continent, to deepen collaboration and pursue cross-border opportunities. This vision aligns with the broader goals of regional integration and economic self-reliance, positioning African youth as key drivers of the continent's future prosperity. However, realizing the full potential of AfCFTA for young entrepreneurs will require concerted efforts from governments, financial institutions, and the private sector to improve access to affordable finance, infrastructure, and market information, ensuring that the framework translates into tangible opportunities for the graduating class and future generations.