ABUJA — Nigerian universities have been urged to strengthen partnerships with businesses and professional organisations to improve graduate employability and ensure that academic programmes respond more closely to labour-market needs. The call reflects continuing concerns about the gap between formal qualifications and the practical skills required by employers. Universities remain central to Nigeria's human-capital development, but students increasingly need more than classroom knowledge to compete for employment. Practical experience, digital literacy, communication skills and problem-solving abilities are valuable across many sectors. Industry partnerships can provide opportunities for students to acquire those skills before graduation. Internships are one of the most direct ways universities can connect students with workplaces. Students can gain experience with professional procedures while employers can identify promising candidates. Structured internship programmes are more effective when universities and companies agree on learning objectives and supervision. Guest lectures, mentorship programmes and joint projects can also expose students to current industry practices. Businesses can provide information about emerging skills and technologies that should be reflected in academic programmes. Universities can then use that information when reviewing curricula. Collaboration can also support research and innovation. Companies may provide universities with practical problems that researchers and students can investigate. Successful projects can eventually lead to products, services or improvements in business processes. Intellectual property arrangements need to be clearly defined when institutions and companies collaborate on research. Entrepreneurship is another area where universities can strengthen industry links. Students with innovative ideas may need mentorship, financing and market knowledge to develop businesses. Partnerships with incubators, investors and established companies can provide those resources. Career services within universities also need strengthening. Students should receive guidance on job searches, interviews, professional communication and workplace expectations. Employers can contribute by explaining what they look for when recruiting graduates. Digital technology has expanded employment opportunities but has also increased competition. Nigerian graduates may now compete for jobs beyond their immediate locations, making practical and specialised skills increasingly important. Universities therefore need to prepare students for both domestic and international opportunities. The quality of partnerships matters as much as the number. Institutions should evaluate whether collaborations produce measurable benefits for students and researchers. Internships should not become arrangements where students are used as unpaid labour without meaningful learning opportunities. Universities can establish standards to protect students and ensure that placements are educational. Government can support university-industry collaboration through policies that encourage research partnerships and skills development. Employers can also benefit from stronger links with universities because they gain access to emerging talent and academic expertise. The wider economy benefits when graduates are better prepared for productive employment. Strengthening university-industry partnerships is therefore not simply an education issue. It is also part of Nigeria's strategy for addressing unemployment, improving productivity and developing a workforce capable of supporting economic growth. Sustained collaboration can help universities remain responsive to changes in technology and industry while giving students practical experience before they enter the labour market.