Nigeria has taken a major step toward restructuring its career guidance and counselling system with the launch of a high-level policy dialogue to develop a National Career Guidance and Counselling (CGC) Framework.
The initiative, held at the United Nations House in Abuja, brought together stakeholders from the Federal Ministry of Education, Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Federal Ministry of Youth Development, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit, alongside other development and technical partners.
Speaking at the opening session, Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Education, Abel Enitan, described the dialogue as a milestone in ongoing education reforms, stressing that career guidance must be repositioned as a strategic pillar rather than a peripheral service within Nigeria’s education system.
He noted that rapid changes in the global economy—driven by automation, digital transformation, and industrial shifts—require students to be equipped not only with academic knowledge but also with structured guidance that links education to labour market opportunities.
According to him, the proposed framework will align individual career aspirations with national economic priorities, particularly in sectors such as agriculture value chains, construction, and digital skills.
“Counselling in our institutions has been treated as a secondary service rather than a strategic necessity. In today’s world, students need more than a syllabus; they need a compass,” he said.
Enitan added that institutionalising a national policy would integrate labour market intelligence into school counselling systems, promote Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) as a viable first-choice pathway, and improve employment outcomes as a measurable impact of education investments.
Also speaking, Acting Head of Education Sector at UNESCO Abuja, Oladeji Adeyemi, described career guidance as the critical link between education and employment, warning that even strong education systems cannot deliver optimal outcomes without a coordinated CGC structure.
“Career Guidance and Counselling is not an add-on — it is the bridge that connects learning to livelihoods,” he said.
Adeyemi emphasised the need for stronger institutional collaboration and shared ownership, noting that effective delivery of career guidance requires clearly defined roles and accountability across sectors.
He explained that the proposed framework aims to transition Nigeria from fragmented interventions to a cohesive system connecting education, labour, and youth development.
Participants at the two-day workshop are expected to review international best practices, harmonise stakeholder inputs, and define the structure and key pillars of the national framework.
Both speakers highlighted the urgency of shifting from a system of “career by chance” to one of “career by choice,” ensuring that young Nigerians have structured pathways to education, skills development, and sustainable employment.
Development partners, including UNESCO under its Better Education for Africa’s Rise (BEAR III) initiative and GIZ, reaffirmed their support for Nigeria’s education and skills reform agenda.
The dialogue is expected to produce a consolidated draft framework to guide the future of career guidance and counselling across Nigeria’s education and labour systems.
