Massimo De Luca, head of cooperation at the European Union Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, says the EU will continue supporting Nigeria’s efforts to build a labour market capable of meeting investors’ needs.De Luca spoke in Abuja on Tuesday during the national skills and industry alignment roundtable Q2 Series on the role of data in job creation, coordination and linkages.“We have a shortage of skilled labour when it comes to big investment projects,” De Luca said.
“On the other hand, we have a lot of untapped talent that is not adequately recognised. Those are realities that investors take into account.”He commended the office of the vice-president for leading reforms aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s skills development ecosystem.Speaking at the event, Yemi Kale, the group chief economist and managing director of Research and Trade Intelligence, African Export Import Bank, said data fragmentation is hindering Nigeria’s productivity, employment opportunities and labour market efficiency.
Kale, a former statistician general of the federation, said Nigeria’s demographic dividend, with 70 percent of its population under 30, presents both an opportunity and a challenge, requiring quality education, economic absorption capacity, and strong institutions.Kale highlighted the need for a coordinated data architecture to align skills with economic opportunities, enhance productivity, and foster long-term economic competitiveness.“Across Nigeria today, we have employers that are searching for skill, and at precisely the same time, millions of Nigerians are searching for opportunities they can access,” he said.
