Credentialism and Employability in Nigeria: A Conceptual Approach

Abstract

Credentialism has become an increasingly influential feature of Nigeria’s labour market, shaping recruitment practices, career mobility, and perceptions of graduate suitability for employment. As the number of degree holders continues to rise amid persistent graduate unemployment and underemployment, concerns have emerged regarding the extent to which formal educational qualifications translate into meaningful employability outcomes. This conceptual paper examines the relationship between credentialism and employability in Nigeria, with particular attention to the roles of skill alignment, institutional quality, and social capital. Anchored in Credentialism Theory, Signalling Theory, and Employability Theory, the study interrogates how academic credentials function both as signals of potential productivity and as mechanisms that may obscure deficiencies in practical and transferable skills. Drawing on recent literature from Nigeria and comparable economies, the paper argues that an overreliance on credentials can weaken employability by prioritising paper qualifications over competence, adaptability, and workplace readiness. The conceptual contribution of the paper lies in the development of an integrated framework that explains how educational credentials interact with institutional effectiveness, labour market relevance, and social networks to shape employability outcomes. By clarifying these linkages, the study provides a foundation for rethinking higher education policy, human resource practices, and youth employment strategies in Nigeria, while offering propositions for future empirical investigation.