A Benue State governorship aspirant, Dr. Jeffrey Kuraun, has advocated the establishment of student innovation hubs and practical skills development programmes as a strategy to tackle  youth unemployment in Nigeria.

Kuraun made the call during the 19th Distinguished Public Lecture of the University of Mkar in Gboko, Benue State, where he delivered a lecture titled “Navigating an Uncertain Future: Courage, Creativity and Responsibility in Times of Crisis.”

In his address, the development expert urged universities and policymakers to move beyond theoretical education and create platforms that enable young people to transform ideas into practical solutions capable of generating employment.

He emphasised that innovation hubs and student laboratories could provide young people with the opportunity to develop creative solutions to real-life community problems while acquiring entrepreneurial and digital skills.

According to him, Nigeria’s growing youth population presents both a challenge and an opportunity, noting that equipping young people with practical competencies would help them become job creators rather than job seekers.

“Universities must begin to build spaces where students can think creatively, experiment with ideas and develop solutions to the pressing challenges facing their communities,” he said.

Kuraun also encouraged students to acquire skills in areas such as digital technology, agriculture, entrepreneurship and data analysis, stressing that these competencies are critical for navigating the uncertainties of the modern economy.

Responding to the challenge, the University of Mkar community established a Students Innovation Hub designed as a collaborative environment where students can share ideas, develop projects and receive mentorship from faculty members and industry professionals.

The hub, which operates under the motto “Think. Imagine. Create.”, is expected to promote creativity, teamwork and interdisciplinary collaboration among students while supporting the development of practical solutions to societal challenges.

Kuraun further urged young people to apply knowledge gained in the classroom to real-life situations, build financial resilience and work collaboratively across disciplines to develop scalable initiatives.

He thereby challenged the students to see themselves as active contributors to national development.

“You are not just here to absorb knowledge,” he said. “You are here to co-create the future.”

Observers say the initiative could serve as a model for other universities across Nigeria seeking to strengthen innovation-driven education and address youth unemployment.