Education Minister, Dr Tunji Alausa, has sparked fresh debate following his declaration that social science graduates face bleak job prospects, and that the government would phase out “outdated” courses. His remarks elicit questions about Nigeria’s higher education curriculum, labour-market demands, and graduate unemployment across fields, OWEDE AGBAJILEKE reports.

Debate has intensified over remarks by the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa that students pursuing social science courses could face low employment prospects in the future. His comments have reopened long-standing concerns about the widening disconnect between Nigeria’s education system and the realities of the labour market.

While advocates of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education argued that technical disciplines offer greater opportunities in a modern economy, pundits insisted that unemployment in Nigeria is rooted less in academic specialisation than in structural economic weaknesses.

Over the years, graduates of engineering, education, agriculture, and health-related programmes have also struggled to secure stable employment due to limited industrial expansion, weak private sector growth, and inadequate investment in innovation-driven industries.

Speaking at the Renewed Hope Conversations, University of Abuja Edition, Alausa stated that students pursuing social science courses would face the challenge of unemployment.

“We are training you not to be job seekers but entrepreneurs. A lot of you are doing social science courses; with all due respect to you, there will be no jobs for you in the future,” he said.

He further revealed that the Nigerian government has finalised plans to discontinue certain academic programmes with limited employment prospects. According to him, the decision formed part of a broader effort to align the country’s education system with current global standards, labour market demands and emerging areas of innovation.

The minister noted that programmes considered ‘outdated’ in relation to national development goals would be replaced with disciplines that better equip students with practical skills for today’s economy.

“With due respect to students here, because I have to be brutally honest with you. Don’t take the Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) loan if you know you won’t make it. We are phasing out some of these courses. I am talking with Vice-Chancellors, Rectors and Provosts. We will phase out some of these courses that were deceiving you.”

Data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed that Nigerians with post-secondary education recorded unemployment rates of about 7.8 to eight per cent in 2023, higher than the national average under the revised methodology.

More significantly, underemployment remains widespread, while over 90 per cent of jobs are in the informal sector, as many graduates across both STEM and non-STEM fields are either underutilised or working outside their areas of training.

Recent reports suggest that more than 600,000 students graduate from tertiary institutions each year, yet only an estimated 10 to 30 per cent secure formal employment within their first year after graduation.

Analysts noted that this points to a deeper structural issue: Nigeria is not necessarily producing the wrong graduates, but rather failing to create enough quality jobs.

The Guardian also observed that this is not the first time the minister has made such sweeping comments. At the launch of the Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Business Incubation Certification (EIBIC) as well as the Student Venture Capital Grant initiative last month, he similarly discouraged students from pursuing social science disciplines.

At the SVCG event, for instance, the federal government splashed over N2.25 billion on 45 student-led ventures, prioritising the commercialisation of high-impact innovations in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine, while students from the social sciences and humanities were conspicuously missing.

Further checks also showed that Alausa is not the first public figure to criticise social sciences. In 2023, former presidential aide, Reno Omokri, stirred debate after describing Sociology as “a useless course”.

Omokri had said on X that instead of spending four years reading a course like sociology, philosophy, anthropology, political science, library science and so on at the university, just go and learn a high-income skill.”

Alausa’s remarks have reignited debate over the direction of Nigeria’s education policy, particularly amid concerns about the mismatch between university curricula and labour market demands.

Analysts noted that while enrolment in Nigerian universities remains heavily skewed towards social sciences and management courses, this trend is often driven by limited capacity in STEM programmes rather than lack of interest.

In a chat with The Guardian, industry stakeholders noted that instead of dismissing entire fields of study, the minister should focus on strengthening the linkage between education and industry, improving curriculum relevance, and expanding opportunities for graduates across sectors.

They warned that statements from top policymakers could discourage prospective students and deepen existing biases against STEM disciplines.

The Dean, Faculty of Communication and Media Studies, Delta State University, Abraka, Prof. Majority Oji, emphasised that the future of work increasingly favours individuals with critical thinking, adaptability, and strong communication skills.

Oji noted that social science graduates continue to thrive across sectors, often working alongside technical experts to translate innovation into real-world impact.

He argued that while STEM fields drive technological advancement, they do not sufficiently address the societal, ethical, and policy implications of such innovations.

“While the fields of STEM equip us with the tools necessary for innovation, they often fall short in elucidating how these innovations impact our societies, cultures, and political structures. They do not sufficiently tackle the ethical questions that emerge from their implementation. This is where the importance of social sciences is amplified.”

Oji stated that fields such as sociology, psychology, economics, and political science provide vital insights into human behaviour and institutional dynamics, adding that they help ensure technological progress aligns with societal needs rather than undermining them.

A lecturer in the Sociology Department, University of Abuja, Dr Samson Adeyemi, said sociology remains one of the most relevant academic disciplines in understanding and addressing the complex social challenges confronting Nigeria and the wider global community.

According to him, the discipline equips students with critical analytical, research and problem-solving skills needed to examine issues such as poverty, unemployment, insecurity, gender inequality, migration, urbanisation and social change.

He noted that sociologists play a crucial role in generating evidence-based insights that inform public policies and development interventions.

“Sociology is fundamentally about understanding society and human behaviour. Every government policy, development programme or institutional reform ultimately affects people. Without a proper understanding of social dynamics, many well-intentioned policies may fail to achieve their objectives,” he said.

Adeyemi stressed that graduates of the department are increasingly finding opportunities in research institutes, government establishments, international development agencies, non-governmental organisations, media organisations, human resources management, monitoring and evaluation, as well as community development programmes.

He further explained that the institution has continued to strengthen its curriculum to ensure that students acquire both theoretical knowledge and practical competencies that meet contemporary labour market demands.

This, he said, includes training in social research methods, data collection and analysis, social policy and population studies, as well as community engagement.

The lecturer urged students and parents to look beyond popular stereotypes about course relevance, insisting that Sociology remains indispensable in building an inclusive, peaceful and sustainable society.

He added that as societies become more complex, the need for professionals who can understand social realities and provide practical solutions will continue to grow.

Also, a 300-level Sociology student of the University of Abuja, Grace Emmanuel, argued that such discipline remains vital to national development and societal progress.

She noted that the increasing tendency to judge academic discipline solely on the basis of immediate employment opportunities has contributed to misconceptions about the value of sociology.

According to her, sociology provides a deeper understanding of human behaviour, social institutions, culture, governance, inequality and development, making it an indispensable field for addressing contemporary societal challenges.

She explained that policies and programmes in areas such as health, education, security and economic development require insights from social scientists to achieve meaningful impact.

She added that many sociologists are actively engaged in social research, policy analysis, monitoring and evaluation, conflict resolution and community development initiatives.

Similarly, social scientists, while faulting the minister’s claim, noted that social sciences — sociology, psychology, political science, history, and economics, among others, are the backbone of policy, governance, conflict resolution, and nation-building.

Prof. Teni Adeoye, of Ekiti State University (EKSU), said without social scientists, Nigeria would lack experts to understand voter behaviour, poverty, migration, or ethnic relations.

President, National Association of Political Science Students, Osun State University Chapter, Tunbosun Adeleke, described the minister’s comment as discouraging.

Adeleke clarified that political science graduates are in the civil service, non-governmental organisations, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and the media.

“Our course is not useless; it just needs better funding and internship links. You can’t build a nation with code alone. You need people who understand human beings, Adeleke stated.

Education stakeholders, parents and economic analysts, also warned that sidelining social sciences would create an imbalanced society.

They noted that while tech can build systems, social sciences teach empathy, ethics, culture, and critical thinking.

They pointed out that unemployment is not caused by social science graduates alone, as a poor industrial base, a weak private sector, and a curriculum-industry mismatch affect all fields, including engineering graduates.

However, a Sociology graduate of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Malik Jamiu, held a contrary view, arguing that the course offers limited employment opportunities for graduates in Nigeria’s highly competitive labour market.

Drawing from his personal experience, Jamiu said his ordeal after graduation has reinforced his belief that the discipline does not provide clear career prospects for many graduates.

“From my experience, Sociology graduates face significant challenges in the job market because there are very few positions specifically created for people with our background.

“While Sociology teaches important concepts about society and human behaviour, the reality is that knowledge alone is not enough in today’s economy. Students need additional skills that employers are actively looking for. Without that, many graduates may continue to face the same difficulties that many of my colleagues and I have experienced,” he added.

As Nigerians await clarification from the Federal Government on the specific social science courses that may be affected by the proposed reforms, the debate continues to stir concern among students, lecturers, parents and education stakeholders over the future of humanities and social science education in the country.