Companies are increasingly establishing internal training programmes to bridge the perceived widening gap between university education and practical workplace skills.
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‎The concern was highlighted at the graduation ceremony of the fourth session of management trainees under the ‘Origin Tech Group internship programme’, where executives said the initiative was created to address persistent challenges in finding skilled and industry-ready talent.
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‎Speaking at the event, the Executive Chairman of Origin Tech Group, Samuel Joseph Samuel, said the programme emerged from difficulties the company encountered in recruiting young professionals despite the growing number of university graduates.
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He explained that the initiative, which began around 2012, was designed to close gaps the company observed in the sector, particularly in finding young talent, transferring knowledge and preparing future leaders.
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Samuel also pointed to declining interest among young people in agriculture and related technical fields, noting that many prefer careers perceived to be easier or more lucrative despite the sector’s economic importance.
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‎According to him, the programme initially started as an internship initiative before evolving into a structured training pipeline aimed at grooming future industry leaders.
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He noted that some of the early trainees were exposed to international learning opportunities, including visits to China and other parts of the world as part of their training.
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However, he acknowledged that some participants eventually pursue careers outside the company after completing the programme, though the organisation considers the process part of its broader effort to develop talent within the sector.
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Samuel also highlighted the scale of agricultural education in Nigeria, noting that the country has hundreds of thousands of students studying agriculture across various institutions.
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‎As part of its support for agricultural education, Samuel disclosed that Origin Group in 2012 endowed academic chairs in three universities — the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), University of Ilorin and Ekiti State University — while also providing greenhouses, tractors and funding for training programmes.
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The initiative, he said, was aimed at strengthening practical learning within agricultural education and supporting the development of Nigeria’s food system.
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Since then, the company has continued to run the internship programme, which annually trains young professionals across several technical areas.
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