Charles Inojie says many Nigerian graduates lack key skills

Nollywood actor Charles Inojie has questioned the employability of Nigerian graduates, saying some young people leave university without enough practical knowledge of their chosen fields.

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Inojie made the comments on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, while recounting an experience he had with a Nigerian graduate working on a film set.

The actor said he was discussing Linguistics with a colleague who had studied the subject at university when he became concerned by her apparent lack of familiarity with some basic concepts in the field.

“I was having a discussion with someone on set, she now said she studied Linguistics. She was so surprised and couldn’t believe it when I said, ‘Oh, all these Noam Chomsky children’,” Inojie said.

He said the woman appeared unable to engage with the discussion despite having studied Linguistics.

“She was lost when we started discussing her course of study, meanwhile it’s an elective course for me. She was lost. I was really disappointed in her and that thing dey worry me.”

Noam Chomsky, the American linguist and cognitive scientist, is widely associated with major developments in modern linguistics, particularly through his work on language and grammar.

Inojie’s experience led him to reflect on wider concerns about the readiness of graduates entering the Nigerian workforce.

“I’ve heard people say that a good number of our graduates today are not employable. That statement no too far from the truth o,” he said.

The actor argued that the problem could contribute to some young people becoming reluctant to take up employment opportunities because they lack confidence in their own knowledge and abilities.

“That is why many of them are not willing to work,” he added.

His comments come amid a long-running national conversation about the gap between university education and the skills employers expect from young Nigerians.

While academic qualifications remain important for many professions, employers increasingly place emphasis on practical skills, communication, problem-solving and the ability to apply knowledge outside the classroom.

Inojie’s remarks have therefore added a familiar but contentious perspective to the debate, although his experience with one graduate cannot by itself establish the employability of Nigerian graduates as a whole.

The actor, known for his work in Nollywood and particularly for his role as Chief Inem in the popular television series The Johnsons, has previously spoken publicly about social and cultural issues affecting young Nigerians.

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His latest comments are likely to renew discussion about whether Nigeria’s education system is adequately preparing graduates for the realities of the workplace.