Empathy Map on School-to-Work Transition in Nigeria from an employer's viewpoint. Problems, What can be done, Possible Solutions

1. Nigerian school system is not doing enough to
prepare people for the school-to-work transition
The schools are lacking in creativity of
learning solutions
Teachers are not challenged to be better at what they do by embracing latest technologies in
deploying learning solutions
SAY
Most graduates do not know best
practices for the workplace
Learning in teams is very
important. Peers learning from
each other teaches teamwork
skills which are useful at work
Self-study has to be promoted in schools
where he can discover things for himself
Learning has to be a process of discovery beyond
studying to pass exams
We need collaborative learning instead of ‘cram and pass’
Some graduates with academic smarts are too
arrogant to be taught at the workplace
Schools need to teach real-life skills
In Nigeria, schooling is lacking in
creativity
Schools have to be better at preparing people for the workplace
I have seen students who have no academic smarts but have street smarts yet they fail at the
intellectually challenging workplace due to lack of confidence in ability to perform intellectually
I have seen students who have academic smarts but no
emotional intelligence and they fail at the workplace
What we do in school is to cram and pass exams.
Success at workplace has a lot to do with being able to accept and manage feedback

2. In seeking a solution to this problem, John started a company that teaches real-
life skills to graduates and company staff in Nigeria
DO
He travels all over Nigeria to deliver trainings to mostly organisations who require his
services to inspire self-development and better performance at the workplace
John resigned from a high end job at a premium bank in Nigeria to start his
Life Skills education business
John also teaches young primary and secondary students on Life Skills to
better prepare them for the future at an early age
John is very passionate about what he does and talks about the subject of
school-to-work transition with such excitement.
He is an ardent believer that the problems expressed in the SAY section can
be solved by making basic but powerful changes to Nigeria’s educational
system

3. THINK
Creativity should be introduced in Nigerian
schools
Teachers should be equipped to deploy
creative learning solutions
Creativity needs to be encouraged
in both teachers and students
Beyond academics, life skills taught at school would
better prepare students for school-to-work transition
Discovery-based learning promotes curiosity for
learning and thereby promotes creativity
Teachers should have more expected from them in terms of incorporating
technology into their lesson planning and delivery

4. Graduates need to acquire workplace
preparatory skills
These Life Skills should be embedded in the
Nigerian schools’ curriculum
Being able to work in teams is an
important skill for the workplace
Teachers should be exposed to
new learning environments
Feedback management should be
taught in schools
Street smarts (emotional and cultural
intelligence) are as important as IQ at the
workplace

5. STAKEHOLDER DESCRIPTION
• John is an entrepreneur who owns a company that teaches
real-life skills to graduates and company staff in Nigeria
• John resigned from a high end job at a premium bank in
Nigeria to start his Life Skills education business.
• He travels all over Nigeria to deliver trainings to mostly
organisations who require his services to inspire self-
development and better performance at the workplace
• John is very passionate about what he does and talks about
the subject of school-to-work transition with such excitement.
• He is an ardent believer that the problems expressed in the
SAY section can be solved by making basic but powerful
changes to Nigeria’s educational system

6. Problem Statement
• The Nigerian educational system needs to
develop and incorporate a way of education
that promotes learning in a
wholesome, creative and engaging way for
both teachers and students to foster better
school-to-work transition for graduates.

7. INSIGHT
• The Nigerian educational system has focused
mainly on developing the left brain.
Focus needs to shift to the right brain and
thereby engage the whole brain and
consequently tap into the Tortoise Mind.
This will not only solve school-to-work transition
problems but will result in a creativity-forward
society with people churning out solutions in
whatever area of influence they are engaged in.