The Dilemma of Graduates’ Skills Acquisition in Free Trade Zones: A Political Study of Southwest Nigeria

Unemployment among graduates of tertiary institutions in Nigeria has remained a persistent socio-economic challenge, often attributed to a mismatch between graduates' skills and the demands of the labour market. In response, the Nigerian government has introduced various policy interventions, including the establishment of Free Trade Zones (FTZs), with the aim of attracting foreign direct investment, promoting industrialization, and facilitating skills acquisition necessary for citizens to be self-reliant. While this approach proved largely successful in several countries, notably in China during the 1980s and 1990s, its implementation in Nigeria has remained largely unsuccessful over the years. Anchored on Statist Theory, this study examined the dilemma of skills acquisition among graduates of tertiary institutions in Southwest Nigeria, aimed at assessing the effectiveness of FTZs as platforms for enhancing employability and self-reliance, which underscores the central role of state institutions in economic transformation. The study adopts a quantitative technique through the use of questionnaires to collect primary data, while secondary data were obtained from the Nigerian Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA). Preliminary insights suggest that institutional weaknesses, such as corruption, poor governance and policy implementation failures continue to undermine the capacity of FTZs to deliver meaningful skills development. Findings further revealed that the Nigeria’s domestic technological base is underdeveloped, Characterized majorly by assembly of foreign products, making it difficult for graduates to absorb and adapt external technologies effectively. The study recommended that, for FTZs to serve as effective vehicles for graduate skill acquisition and employment generation, strong leadership, transparency, and institutional reforms are imperative.