Talent Management and Skills Development: The Lost Coins of Adult Education Programmes as Innovative Solutions for Job and Employability Skills in Nigeria

Abstract

The study examined the role of adult education as innovative solutions to talent management, employability skills and skills development in PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc., in Lagos State. The study adopted descriptive survey research design. The population of the study comprised all employees in PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc at Ikorodu, in Lagos State Nigeria. A multi-stage sampling procedure was used in data collection which involves proportional stratified and purposive sampling technique from the sample strata (departments). The study sample consisted 204 employees that cut across all the cadres in the organisation. An instrument titled “Talent Management and Skills Development for Employability Skills Questionnaire (TMSDESQ)” was used to obtain data for the study. The data collected were analysed using Pearson Product Moment test of relationship at .05 level of significance. The results showed that there were significant relationships between talent management in attracting and retaining high performing employees. The study also found that there is a significant relationship between mandatory students’ industrial training programme and employee skill development. The study concluded that government should give adequate recognition to adult education and its programmes so as to ensure the survival of talented target groups in terms of employability and self-reliance for the present and future jobs in Nigeria. The study recommends that, Students’ Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) should be replaced with mandatory students’ industrial training programme.