By Favour Ulebor, Abuja

In a bid to address widespread uncertainty over career choices among young Nigerians, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and key stakeholders have commenced a review of a national framework aimed at providing clear, structured career pathways aligned with education and labour market demands.

Speaking at the event themed ‘Policy Dialogue and Consultative Workshop on the development of the National Career Guidance and Counselling framework’, on Monday in Abuja, Head of Education Sector, UNESCO Office Abuja, Mr. Oladeji Adeyemi, described career guidance and counselling as a critical link between education and employment.

He said, career guidance should not be treated as an add on but as a central component of national development planning.

He noted that no single institution can effectively deliver career guidance in isolation, calling for a fully integrated system that brings together actors across education, labour, and youth development to ensure coherence and impact.

In his opening remarks, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Mr. Abel O. Enitan, represented by Assistant Director, Dr. Alamuoye Adewumi Ezekiel, said the initiative represents a major step in repositioning Nigeria’s education system to respond to evolving global and local realities.

He observed that counselling services in many institutions have been treated as secondary, leaving students without the direction needed to navigate emerging sectors driven by digital transformation and industrial shifts.

According to him, the proposed framework will integrate labour market intelligence into school counselling, promote technical and vocational education as viable career options, and ensure employment outcomes are measurable.

Also speaking, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Youth Development, Dr. (Mrs.) Maryam Ismails Keshinro, represented by Assistant Director, Ojeaburu Arinola Grace, described the initiative as timely and necessary, noting that effective career guidance will help bridge the gap between education and employment while reducing youth unemployment.

She added that the Ministry remains committed to supporting policies and programmes that promote skills development, entrepreneurship, and inclusive opportunities for Nigerian youths.

On her part, Head of Education, GIZ SEDEC, Fidelia Okodugha, who represented the Head of Component, Policy Strategy and Dialogue, Kikelomo Collins Chibeze, urged stakeholders to focus on solutions that reflect Nigeria’s realities rather than adopting foreign models without adaptation.

She stressed the need for open and constructive dialogue, noting that the framework should be practical and implementable within existing systems, while improving how young people are prepared for employment.

Participants at the workshop are expected to harmonise perspectives, validate earlier findings, and define key pillars for a comprehensive and inclusive national framework that will guide career development across the country.