ACCI, Commonwealth of Learning to enhance Partnership on Graduate Employability 

Commonwealth of Learning, COL, says it is committed to supporting governments and educational institutions in implementing Open and Distance Learning.

Adviser for Higher Education, Commonwealth of Learning, Vancouver, Canada, Professor Jane- Frances Agbu disclosed this when she led a delegation from the COL on a visit to the Director General of the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), Mr. Agabaidu Jideani.

According to her, “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.”

Professor Agbu noted the valuable insights gained from a recent workshop that addressed the emerging skills gap and employability challenges.

She emphasised 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.

“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.

“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),” Professor Agbu stated.

She revealed that 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.”

Director General of the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), Mr. Agabaidu Jideani expressed the Chamber’s enthusiasm for the partnership.

He said “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.