YABATECH and Sterling Bank Launch Paid Work-Study Programme to Boost Graduate Employability

Yaba College of Technology and Sterling Bank Plc have entered into a strategic partnership aimed at bridging the gap between academic learning and industry requirements through the introduction of a structured work-study programme for students.

The initiative was formalised with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding at the college, according to a statement issued by the Deputy Registrar of YABATECH, Adekunle Adams.

Adams explained that the partnership is designed to integrate classroom instruction with hands-on workplace experience, ensuring that students graduate with practical, market-relevant and competitive skills suited for today’s job market.

He disclosed that the programme aligns with Sterling Bank’s commitment to workforce development and youth empowerment. Quoting the Group Head of Sterling Academy, Kola Oluyemi, Adams said the collaboration reflects the bank’s focus on building a future-ready workforce through deliberate engagement with educational institutions.

Oluyemi noted that the work-study initiative addresses the growing challenge of graduate unemployment by closing the disconnect between academic curricula and real workplace expectations. He explained that participants would gain professional competencies alongside their academic qualifications, improving their employability upon graduation.

Under the programme, National Diploma graduates and undergraduates will combine paid employment at Sterling Bank with ongoing academic studies. Participants will also benefit from scholarship support provided by the bank through its Grow with Sterling initiative.

The Rector of Yaba College of Technology, Dr Ibraheem Abdul, described the partnership as a major step toward repositioning technical and vocational education in Nigeria. He said the collaboration would produce graduates who are not only academically sound but also practically skilled and equipped with meaningful industry exposure.

Also speaking on the initiative, the Director of the Centre for Linkages, Partnership and International Relations at YABATECH, Dr Mas’ud Ajala, said the programme was a direct response to labour market realities. He noted that National Diploma graduates remain in high demand across various sectors and confirmed the institution’s commitment to full implementation of the work-study scheme.

Both YABATECH and Sterling Bank expressed confidence that the programme would serve as a national model for industry-academic collaboration, adding that implementation activities would commence in the coming weeks.