Deputy Provost, University College Hospital, lbadan, Prof. Ademola Ajuwon has called for strict curriculum implementation and practical-based education as panacea to unemployment among Nigerian graduates.

Ajuwon gave the recommendation at the Annual Conference/Annual General Meeting of the Nigerian Library Association (NLA), Oyo State Chapter, held at the University of Ibadan.

The provost, in a paper entitled, “ Equitable Quality Education and Life-long Learning Opportunities for Sustainable Development in Nigeria – The Role of Libraries,’’ decried the large number unemployable graduates in the country.

He blamed the situation on the lack of practical based education in most tertiary institutions and called for the adoption of this in the new curriculum.

Ajuwon also tasked librarians to acquire necessary practical skills for relevance and employability in the labour market.

According to him, many employers consider graduates from our tertiary institutions as unemployable because they lack the prerequisite practical skills for the job.

The don said that teaching of library and archival studies should be practical by allowing those in the profession to teach the course and through regular training of library staff.

The event featured the election of the new executives to steer its ship of the association for the next two years and Dr Olatunji Olaojo emerged the new chairman after the keenly contested election.

Also elected are Mr Adekoya Osunkoya (Vice Chairman), Mr Olugbenga Adeyi (General Secretary) and Mrs Oluyemisi Olubayo( Assistant General Secretary).

Others are Mrs Olanike Olaniyi (Treasurer), Mrs Tolu Adepoju (Financial Secretary) and Mr Francis Alayande (Public Relations Officer).

In his acceptance speech, Olaojo, the Librarian, Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology (OYSCATECH), Igboora, thanked members for their support, noting that leadership was about service.

He promised to do everything within his capacity  to uplift  the association, and charged members to  contribute their quota towards the advancement of the association.

Olaojo, a doctor of library studies, promised that his administration would sustain current programmes, adding that new initiatives would be introduced to break new grounds.