BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN THE GOWN AND THE TOWN IN NIGERIAN HIGHER EDUCATION

The Gown refers to the world of learning or the Academia which is an institution that equips graduates for employment or self-reliance in the labour market. The Town on the other hand refers to the world of works or Industry where graduates are expected to secure employment to earn a living and monetary capacity to improve their standard of living. In the less developed countries, there seems to exist a gap between these two worlds which manifests in form of inability of graduates to be effectively and efficiently employed or to successfully establish their own businesses based on the skills acquired during their training in the world of learning. The Academia in the developing countries confronts an uphill task of sufficient and sustained investment required in the Academia that can bridge the gap between the Academia and the Industry. The study examined the mechanisms of bridging the gap, through the Academia multi-disciplinary approach to research and learning, and developing a vision framework and strategies that will attract the Industry. Also, relevant government agencies are to set up mechanisms to attract Academic research and development that will be relevant to the Industry. The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) for example has collaborated with the Nigerian Academia in the field of Infrastructure, Research and Development (R&D), and Capacity Development as part of its Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR). The effective sequences of the Commission’s CSR have greatly assisted in bridging the gap between the Academia and the Industry.