By Waziri Isa Adam
Nasarawa State University, Keffi, NSUK, has unveiled the Holistic Graduate Development Initiative, HGDI, a new institutional framework designed to ensure every graduate leaves the university with academic qualifications, practical skills, and entrepreneurial capacity.
The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sa’adatu Hassan Liman, announced the initiative on Thursday, July 2, 2026, during a Strategic Stakeholder Engagement at the S. B. Mohammed Auditorium, School of Postgraduate Studies, NSUK.
Anchored on the theme “One Degree – One Trade – One Enterprise,” the HGDI is aimed at bridging the gap between classroom learning and the demands of the modern labour market.
Addressing stakeholders from government, industry, professional bodies, development agencies, and the private sector, Professor Liman described the initiative as a timely response to the evolving global economy and the persistent challenge of graduate unemployment and underemployment in Nigeria.
She said the programme represents a new vision for higher education in Nigeria.
“Under the Holistic Graduate Development Initiative, every NSUK student will graduate with three critical competencies: an academic degree, a nationally recognised vocational, digital, trade, or professional certification, and enterprise development skills capable of supporting business creation and sustainable employment,” she stated.
According to her, students will undergo structured competency development throughout their academic journey. They will gain hands-on exposure to high-demand sectors such as digital technology, agribusiness, renewable energy, manufacturing, construction, and the creative industry, as well as other emerging areas of the future economy.
The Vice-Chancellor noted that HGDI aligns with the National Skills Qualification Framework, the NUC Core Curriculum and Minimum Academic Standards, CCMAS, national youth empowerment policies, federal digital economy strategies, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
She said the initiative reflects her administration’s commitment to innovation, excellence, entrepreneurship, digital transformation, global competitiveness, and community impact.
Since assuming office two and a half years ago, Professor Liman said NSUK has implemented strategic reforms to strengthen academic quality. These include curriculum enhancement, expanded international collaborations through Erasmus+ and partnerships with institutions in Europe and Africa, significant investment in ICT infrastructure and smart learning environments, and the construction of new academic facilities, research centres, hostels, roads, and innovation spaces across all campuses.
She also pointed to the establishment of the UNDP-supported MineTech UniPod as evidence of NSUK’s growing reputation as a hub for research, innovation, technology transfer, and enterprise development.
To ensure the success of HGDI, the VC called for stronger collaboration between the university and external partners.
“We need universities, industry, regulators, development organisations, professional bodies, technology companies, and financial institutions to work with us,” she said. “Support can come through creating certification pathways, providing apprenticeship and internship opportunities, offering industry mentorship, enriching curricula, establishing innovation laboratories and business incubation centres, and facilitating startup financing mechanisms.”
Professor Liman stressed that HGDI is more than an institutional programme.
“It is a pioneering national model with the potential to reshape graduate development not only in Nigeria but across Africa,” she said.
She reaffirmed NSUK’s vision to become Nigeria’s leading institution for integrated graduate development by producing graduates with academic knowledge, practical competence, entrepreneurial capacity, digital proficiency, and the ability to create jobs and drive innovation.
The engagement ended with renewed commitments from participants to partner with NSUK in advancing the initiative.
Among those present were the Director-General of the National Power Training Institute of Nigeria, NAPTIN, Ahmed Bolaji Nagode; the Industrial Training Fund, ITF, Lafia Area Manager, Barrister Halima Ali Muhammad; and the Chief Executive Officer of Investionaire Academy, El-Yakub Audu.
Also in attendance were representatives of the National Universities Commission, NUC; Standards Organisation of Nigeria, SON; SMEDAN; NITDA; Corporate Affairs Commission, CAC; Cisco; Prince Interior Furniture; the Nasarawa State Relevant Technology Board; and Wing Commander Abdullahi Ibrahim Vocational Institute, Lafia.
The Federal Polytechnic, Nasarawa; Isa Mustapha Agwai I Polytechnic, Lafia; and the College of Agriculture, Science and Technology, Lafia, were also represented, underscoring broad institutional support for NSUK’s pioneering graduate development model.