This document discusses the skill gap faced by mechanical engineering graduates in Nigeria. It outlines how industrialization and skill requirements have changed over time from the 1960s to present. Specifically, it notes that while industries grew in the 1980s-90s, graduates were not adequately skilled. Now under ISO 9001 standards, graduates need relevant skills and experience to match job requirements. However, the document suggests many graduates lack these skills due to curricular and industry knowledge gaps. It recommends mentoring, skills training programs, and personal development activities like certification courses to bridge this gap.

1. ENGR. PETER N. IBOGBE
B.ENG (MECH.), MNSE, COREN, MNIW.
AWS CWI, ASNT NDT II, NEBOSH IGC,
ISO9001 QMS LEAD AUDITOR.
(PIBOGBE@YAHOO.COM, 0812 344 6459)
BRIDGING SKILL GAP IN
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
PRACTICE
In Nigeria

2. In the 1960’s and 70’s
 Industrialization was low.
 Need for skill was very low and skilled manpower
was in short supply.
 The few persons that had education were heads of
the private and public organisations

3. In the 1980’s and 90’s
 This was the post oil-boom era
 Industries were sprouting, following the oil boom -
Steel, oil and gas, foods and beverages,
manufacturing.
 Number of available graduates grew considerably,
even though they were not adequately skilled.
 Skill requirements were moderately high but many
graduates were recruited as trainees to fill the
manpower gaps and they grew on the job.

4. From year 2000
 Nigeria had been heavily battered from the influences of bad
governance.
 Infrastructure decay characterised the socio-economic platform
 All the government companies in iron and Steel, Aluminium, Sugar,
Paper, Pharmaceuticals, Solid minerals etc, folded up in turns
 Government corporations like NPA, NEPA, REFINERIES, etc,
staggered on comatose foundation.
 Nigeria literally decided to forget about industrialisation, with
everything (up to sand) coming from overseas and the naira had
been in a nose-dive since then.
 Unemployment rose, with large numbers of graduates competing
for few job openings.
 Rising Challenges for graduates, including those of mechanical
engineering background.

5. Need for Competitive edge
 For corporate competitiveness, companies have to certify to
ISO 9001 status to demonstrate the organisations' ability to
produce goods and services that meet customers'
requirements.
 With prescription of ISO9001 standards on skill
requirements, Graduates have to acquire, or be in the
course of acquiring the right skills to get employed.
 ISO 9001 competence requirement
Education Training Skills Experience

6. How does ISO 9001 affect mechanical
engineers
 Employers now need people who possess the skills.
 Because industrial activity is low, and so many
skilled persons are out there, employers prefer not
to waste resources on training
 Unfortunately, fresh graduates do not have enough
skills and experience to match the skill
requirements of job positions.
THIS IS THE SKILL GAP WE ARE BOTHERED
ABOUT

7. APPLICATION OF MECHANICAL
ENGINEERING SKILLS
 Building Services
 Automotive Production
 Aircraft body Inspection
 Design & Construction of Fire
Detection and Suppression
Facilities
 Workshop Practices for Industries
 Operation and Maintenance for
Static and Rotating Equipment
 Automation Services for Industries
 Project Management
 Safety Management
 Boiler and Pressure Vessel
Inspection
 Welding Inspection
 Piping Inspection
 Construction of Oil Storage Tanks
 Air-conditioning & Refrigeration of
Buildings
 Ship Building - and Ship repairs
 QA/QC Management
 Steel Erection for Telecoms and
Electricity
 Non-Destructive Testing
 Coating
 Cathodic Protection
 Cost Engineering
 Offshore Commissioning
 UFR and subsea systems
 Planning Engineering
 Procurements

8. Points to note
 Any career line has its skill requirements that
must be met to get a job.
 HOW DO WE AQUIRE SKILLS TO MATCH UP
WITH OUR DREAM JOBS OR ANY BENEFICAL
EMPLOYMENT.
There is a gap when our skills do
not match job requirements

9. SKILL GAPS ARE CREATED BY:
 Curricular Inadequacies
 Lack of Industry knowledge by teaching resource
 Inadequate academic knowledge
 Low scholastic aptitude
 Ignorance of relevant knowledge areas
 Ignorance of applicable codes and standards
 Ignorance of career enhancers
 General lack of awareness

10. Some useful trainings and certifications
 AWS Certified Welding Inspector (CWI)
 AWS Certified Welding Engineer (CWEng)
 IIW International Welding Engineer (IWE)
 ASNT (NDT) Level II &III in VT, ET, MT, PT, RT, UT
 ASNT (NDT) Level
 NACE Certification for cathodic Protection
 NACE Certified Coating Inspector
 ASQ Certified Quality Engineer
 QMS Lead auditor certification ISO 9001:2008
 NEBOSH IGC
 Project Management Professional (PMP)
 Piping Design
 ASME
 Mechatronics
 Steel Erection
 Certified Manufacturing Engineer (CMfgE)
 And many others

11. Bridging the Skill Gaps
Government Affirmative action
 Curricular review
 Mentoring programmes
 Industry placement
 Skill development programmes
Activities of professional bodies
 Awareness programmes
 Skill development
 Interface with industry

12. Bridging the Skill Gaps
Mentoring programmes
 Individual outreach
 information search
 Internship
 Volunteering

13. ON PERSONAL ASPIRATION
 Identify skills required to fit into a career path
 Identify avenues for acquiring the skills
 Aspire for positions in companies offering relevant
openings
 Invest on trainings and certifications
 All these will lead you to become skilled
 Be forward looking
 Aspire for and take up positions that will lead you to
your final destination

14. E N G R . P E T E R N. I B O G B E
B . E N G ( M EC H . ) , M N S E , CO R E N, M N I W.
AWS C W I , A S N T N DT I I , N E B O S H I G C ,
I S O 9 0 0 1 Q M S L EA D AU D I TO R .
( P I B O G B E @ YA H O O. CO M , 0 8 1 2 3 4 4 6 4 5 9 )