The problem of youth unemployment has remained at the front-burner of discourses by critical stakeholders over the years. The situation is direr for young graduates lacking the skills and competencies required to thrive in the 21st-century workplace. Internships have become viable pathways for many young people to gain work-readiness skills that equip them for permanent roles and better means of livelihood. This article attempts to interrogate how internship creates access and opportunities for young graduates in Nigeria while acknowledging the challenges and opportunities.
Internships – what and why?
Internships are an opportunity offered by an employer to potential employees to work at a firm for a fixed time. The positions are usually temporary ad can either be paid or unpaid. A good internship should provide knowledge, skills, and competencies in specific job roles to the candidates.
There is a growing recognition that education focusing on cognitive skills is not sufficient in preparing young people for work and life after school. This is because the future will require them to have aptitudes and skills that will propel them to be independent, self-confident, negotiate effectively, manage risks, think and solve problems critically, manage time and resources, and contribute meaningfully to society. Education, therefore, must move beyond simply being a content delivery system. Instead, it should be designed to develop young people to reach their full potential and enter society as full and productive citizens.
Internships have become a viable pathway for young people to gain work-readiness skills to prepare for full-time engagements in the labour force. Although many have criticized internships as means of exploitation by employers who do not pay interns nor compensate them. The experience has proven beneficial to many and forms the first work experience for many young people who are fresh out of school.
Unemployable Graduates – A Paradox of Implication
In a country where formal education forms the basis for joy access opportunities, it is disheartening that many youths are unemployed due to a lack of formal education. Interestingly, statistics reveal that only 1 in 4 secondary school graduates gains admission into tertiary institutions. This leaves a third (¾) majority seeking employment in the informal sector where work is unregulated, vulnerable, and exploitative. Arguably, Nigerian graduates are often referred to as unemployable due to a lack of relevant skills and competence to thrive in the workplace. Statistics show the undeniable fact that many graduates are not gainfully employed, with about 40% of them without jobs.
Increasingly, actors in the labour market seek qualified employees who demonstrate the skills and technical competence required to excel on the job. There is a growing concern among employers who often require minimal experience, even for entry-level roles. They are often sceptical about employing graduates who have no work experience at all. Their concern is due to the complexities and fluid nature of the 21st-century workplace that requires a rich blend of experience and competence. Most employees even prioritize years of knowledge on the job more than qualifications because some job seekers cannot defend their certificates.
In recent times, the graduate internship has received more attention from key stakeholders who have recognized its critical role. It equips the candidates with work readiness skills, experience, and technical skills to thrive on the job. It also provides the employer a ready poll of talent that are skilled and equipped to take on permanent roles and deliver effectively.
More and more, culture fit has become vital to employers as they seek to fill full-time roles. Interns within such organizations are considered first as they are more familiar with the culture and ways of doing things. New employees may take longer to adapt and acclimatize to the cultures and ethos of the organization.
Creating Employability Pathways Through Internships
Insight from the just-completed evaluation of LEAP Africa’s iLEAD fellowship 2020 in Abuja revealed that the internship placements for NYSC members on the program were beneficial to them in many ways. The fellows echoed that being in a formal workplace has taught them etiquettes to thrive in the workplace. For some, it has helped chart new career pathways for themselves as they have become more aware of their strengths and weaknesses. Two fellows secured full-time employment in the firms they were posted to for the internship.
33% of the fellowship alumni got jobs immediately after the program, while it took 50% less than a year. 29% work in the nonprofit sector, while 65% are in the for-profit sector. 64% are in entry-level roles while 24% are in middle-level positions, while 11% volunteer.
Employability skills are often not taught within the walls of the classroom. They must be learned as part of experience gained over time. This leaves a gap for most graduates who do not have opportunities to participate in internships.
An intentional approach must be applied to student internships to prepare them for the realities of the 21st-century workplace. Tri-sector partners must recognize their roles in ensuring that interns within their networks find the experience valuable and rewarding. This may mean having a unit within organizations dedicated to managing the affairs of interns in terms of development and experience. These interns eventually form a ready pool of employable candidates for organizations that may need to replace talents on the go.
The youth employability challenges in Nigeria must be addressed urgently as the effects are protracted and long-lasting. It is helpful for actors in the labour force to become more international in their recruitment and talent placement approach. This may require organizations to offer internship positions on a rolling basis to afford as many fresh graduates as possible the opportunity to learn employability skills.
In addition, the ministry of education may need to review its policies regarding internships as the current one excludes specific departments and courses. It may become necessary to make it a critical criterion for graduating from tertiary institutions.
As the saying goes, the betterment of society is not for a few but all; hence all hands must be on deck to support young people as they navigate their lives after school. The future of Nigeria is hinged on the development and participation of young people. Hence, they must be equipped to become quality resources who will proffer viable and sustainable solutions to Nigeria’s developmental challenges.
by Imuetinyan Hope Obamwonyi
