The Director General of the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), Mr. Agabaidu Jideani, welcomed a delegation from the Commonwealth of Learning (COL), led by Professor Jane-Frances Agbu, Adviser for Higher Education, Commonwealth of Learning, Vancouver, Canada.
The visit focused on exploring collaboration opportunities between ACCI and COL, particularly in enhancing graduate employability across Nigeria and West Africa through innovative educational strategies.
During the meeting, Professor Agbu highlighted COL’s commitment to supporting governments and educational institutions in implementing Open and Distance Learning (ODL). “COL has been actively involved in providing assistance at both the national and institutional levels to promote flexible learning solutions. In Nigeria, we work closely with the National Open University and its regional center, RETRIDOL, to strengthen the capacity of the country’s distance education framework,” she stated.
Professor Agbu noted the valuable insights gained from a recent workshop that addressed the emerging skills gap and employability challenges. She emphasized the need to integrate theoretical knowledge with practical skills and expressed eagerness to expand on these findings to develop frameworks that enhance job readiness for graduates across the region.
Discussions during the ACCI meeting reinforced their shared goal of supporting employability initiatives. “We are excited about our strong partnership with the Chamber, as it offers us a practical perspective and access to key stakeholders within Nigeria’s business community,” Professor Agbu added.
The collaboration will continue with ACCI playing a critical role as COL and the Regional Training and Research Institute for Distance and Open Learning (RETRIDOL) engage with national institutions such as the National Universities Commission (NUC). A three-day follow-up program is already underway, focusing on developing actionable frameworks based on insights from previous discussions and workshops.
“As part of this initiative, COL plans to work with pilot institutions to adapt these frameworks, ensuring effective implementation of recommendations. ACCI will remain a key partner, with further engagement anticipated as the program progresses to its next phase.”
Barr. Chris Ugwuala stated that this ongoing collaboration between ACCI and COL began earlier this year, concentrating on addressing graduate employability in the region. A key outcome of their initial engagement was a West African regional workshop that gathered government stakeholders, educators, and industry professionals to discuss policy issues and practical challenges surrounding employability.
Mr. Agabaidu expressed the Chamber’s enthusiasm for the partnership, stating, “The collaboration with COL aligns perfectly with ACCI’s commitment to fostering capacity-building initiatives that directly impact learning and economic growth. We will provide feedback to our members, who will leverage this collaboration as we look forward to continuing our support for this important initiative.”
The Director General had previously presented a paper on Graduate Employability from the Business and Private Sector perspective at a COL workshop earlier in the year.
Olayemi John-Mensah
ACCI Media/Strategy Officer
