Evaluation of Stakeholders’ Assessment of Graduate Employability Skill in Kwara State, Nigeria

Abstract

Graduate unemployment is a complex and multifaceted issue in Nigeria, and tackling the skills gap and increasing opportunities for graduates to get work experience are both crucial to bringing it down. This study evaluated stakeholders’ assessment of graduate employability skills in Kwara State, Nigeria. The research utilized a descriptive survey design.  Multistage sampling procedures (purposive and random sampling techniques) were used to select the respondents, who are unemployed graduates, university lecturers, and employers of labor. Four hundred and fifty stakeholders (one hundred and fifty lecturers, employers of labor, and unemployed graduates) in Kwara State were chosen as the sample for this study. A researcher-designed questionnaire titled Questionnaire on Stakeholders’ Assessment of Graduate Employability with a reliability coefficient of 0.72 was used to collect data from the sampled stakeholders. Frequency and percentage were used to answer the two research questions raised, while the Chi-square statistical tool was used to test the hypothesis postulated in the study at a 0.05 level of significance. Findings revealed that stakeholders (university graduates and their lecturers) viewed University graduates’ employability knowledge in Kwara State as fair, meanwhile the employers of labor submitted that University graduates’ employability knowledge in Kwara State is low. Teamwork, problem-solving, and communication skills were found to be the most required employability skills. Also, a significant difference in stakeholders’ perception of graduate employability knowledge in Kwara State was revealed. Based on these findings, it is recommended that educational stakeholders should encourage students to participate in at least one-year internships, co-ops, and job placements as part of students’ formal education because it will provide real-world experience to students. Also, the education system should work in tandem with employers of labor to meet their demands in terms of the curriculum it provides.

KEYWORDS: Assessment, Evaluation, Graduate employability, Knowledge, Skill, Stakeholders