Nigeria is moving to better connect its vast talent pool with the needs of a rapidly evolving economy through plans to establish a National Skills Database, an initiative designed to strengthen workforce planning, improve job matching and support evidence-based employment policies.
The proposed database will form the foundation of a Nigerian Skills Observatory, providing real-time information on the supply and demand for skills across sectors. By bringing fragmented labour market data into one system, the platform is expected to guide investments, shape policy and help align education and skills development with industry needs.
The initiative was unveiled on Tuesday at the second National Skills and Industry Alignment Roundtable Series in Abuja, themed, "The Role of Data in Job Creation, Coordination and Linkages."
Delivering the keynote address, the Group Chief Economist and Managing Director of Research and Trade Intelligence at Afreximbank, Yemi Kale, said Nigeria's challenge is no longer a lack of data but the ability to transform existing information into actionable intelligence.
"The challenge for us as a nation is not one of data accumulation. It is one of data integration and intelligence," Kale said.
According to him, valuable information on education, employment, wages and skills development already exists across government agencies, educational institutions and the private sector. However, because those datasets remain fragmented, they have yet to deliver the coordinated insights needed for effective labour market planning.
"Data tells you what exists. Intelligence tells you what is happening, what is likely to happen next and what actions should be taken," he said.
Kale noted that while Nigeria produces thousands of graduates every year, employers in critical sectors continue to search for qualified talent, leaving both opportunities and skilled Nigerians disconnected.
"The problem is that employers are searching, workers are searching, policymakers are searching and investors are searching independently rather than collectively. Opportunities that should be visible remain hidden because the information needed to connect them is fragmented," he said.
He said the disconnect reduces productivity, discourages investment and limits the country's ability to fully harness the strength of its youthful population. He urged Nigeria to deliberately align education, workforce planning and skills development with the demands of modern industries.
Speaking on the proposed National Skills Database, the Special Assistant to the President on Workforce Development, Rimam Nuhu, said the platform would become the cornerstone of the Nigerian Skills Observatory.
"At the most foundational level, the Skills Observatory is to create a database on the demand and supply of skills," Nuhu said.
He explained that the National Council on Skills, will rely on data generated by the observatory to develop evidence-based workforce policies.
"Skills development is an input for job creation. We have a market where there are a lot of skills mismatches. Understanding exactly where those shortages exist will help us plan better and improve workforce planning. Ultimately, that contributes to a more productive economy," he said.
Nuhu added that while debates continue over whether Nigeria faces a shortage of skilled workers or simply a mismatch between available skills and labour market demand, the database will provide the evidence needed to guide future interventions.
Earlier, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Coordination and Delivery, Akubo Adegbe, said the roundtable was convened to address the fragmentation of labour market information across public institutions and the private sector.
Despite the large volume of workforce data generated daily, he said poor coordination has prevented policymakers from gaining a complete picture of labour market realities.
"If our first Roundtable challenged us to better align skills with industry, this second Roundtable challenges us to better align information with action," Adegbe said.
Also speaking, the Head of Cooperation at the European Union Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Massimo De Luca, reaffirmed the EU's support for efforts to build a labour market capable of meeting investors' needs.
"We have a shortage of skilled labour when it comes to big investment projects. On the other hand, we have a lot of untapped talent that is not adequately recognised. Those are realities that investors take into account," De Luca said.
He also commended the Office of the Vice President for driving reforms to strengthen Nigeria's skills development ecosystem.
As Nigeria continues to unlock the potential of its growing workforce, the proposed National Skills Database represents another step towards building a labour market where talent is easier to identify, opportunities are easier to access and workforce decisions are increasingly driven by reliable data.
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