EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS REQUIRED BY EDUCATION GRADUATES OF RIVERS STATE UNIVERSITIES FOR ECONOMIC ENHANCEMENT

Authors

  • Stella Ofor-Douglas Ph.D
  • Joseph Ebi Isaiah, Ph.D.

Keywords:

Employability Skills, Education, Education Graduates, Economic Enhancement

Abstract

This paper titled ‘employability skills required by education graduates of Rivers State Universities for economic enhancement’ borders on how the increasing emphasis on employability skills has become critical in bridging the gap between education and economic enhancement, particularly for education graduates in Rivers State universities. This paper thus explores  specific employability skills required to empower education graduates for financial independence  and  employability in a rapidly changing labour market. Despite the climbing number of graduates, many face challenges in finding employment due to a disparity between their acquired capabilities and the requirements of the job market.  Other issues include an excessive focus on academic theory over practical expertise and a lack of synergy between university education and industries intensifies the problem, leaving graduates ill-equipped to meet evolving workplace standards. These deficiencies hinder graduates' financial independence and reduce their capacity to drive the state's socio-economic progress. Many graduates lack essential abilities such as effective communication, critical thinking, teamwork, flexibility and technological proficiency. To tackle these challenges, universities in Rivers State must adopt a comprehensive strategy for skill enhancement. By adopting these initiatives, universities in Rivers State can equip education graduates with the tools to thrive in a competitive labour market, improve their financial prospects, and contribute to the region's sustainable development. Suggestions include revising curricula to incorporate practical and entrepreneurial training, fostering stronger university-industry collaborations to align education with job market expectations, integrating technology to improve digital proficiency and organizing workshops on essential employment skills to significantly bolster graduates' readiness for the workforce.

Downloads

Published

2025-01-20

How to Cite

Ofor-Douglas Ph.D, S., & Ebi Isaiah, Ph.D., J. (2025). EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS REQUIRED BY EDUCATION GRADUATES OF RIVERS STATE UNIVERSITIES FOR ECONOMIC ENHANCEMENT. BW Academic Journal. Retrieved from https://bwjournal.org/index.php/bsjournal/article/view/2564