Nigeria’s Ambassador to Germany, Senator Ita Enang, has said Nigerians do not necessarily need university degrees to secure employment in Germany, urging skilled workers to explore opportunities in vocational and technical fields.

Enang identified driving, hospitality, woodworking, welding and construction among the areas in which Nigerians could find employment, noting that the assumption that only university graduates qualify for jobs in Germany was limiting opportunities for many prospective applicants.

He made the remarks during an interview on Arise Television, where he explained that practical skills and relevant professional experience could provide alternative pathways into the German labour market.

The ambassador, however, identified visa requirements, professional qualifications and proficiency in the German language as important considerations for Nigerians seeking employment in the country.

He said one of the challenges he had identified since assuming office was the relatively low number of Nigerians working within Germany’s formal employment system, although those already employed occupied senior positions.

Enang disclosed that he had been engaging with the German Africa Skilled Mobility Foundation and other institutions to identify different employment pathways for Nigerian workers.

He also said he had approached German officials about establishing a labour migration agreement with Nigeria, similar to arrangements Germany had reached with India and Kenya to facilitate structured employment opportunities for their citizens.

According to him, discussions on the proposal included engagement with Germany’s Ambassador for Migration Cooperation, Dr Ludwig Jung.

The envoy added that he had obtained English versions of Germany’s immigration and labour laws, alongside relevant European Union regulations, to understand the legal framework governing employment and migration.

He said he was also working with the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and universities to examine their curricula and identify skills required in Germany’s labour market.

The initiative, he explained, would help Nigeria identify relevant training institutions and explore ways to align its educational system with German standards, enabling students and graduates to acquire qualifications suited to available opportunities.

Enang further advised Nigerians interested in working in Germany to consider learning the German language and exploring admission opportunities at German institutions, where they could obtain qualifications assessed against the country's professional and educational standards.

He stressed that his efforts were not solely aimed at facilitating employment abroad but also at helping Nigerians acquire technical skills that could be brought back to strengthen the domestic workforce.

Germany's skilled-worker immigration framework provides certain routes for experienced professionals without university degrees, although eligibility depends on the occupation, qualifications, work experience, job offer and applicable visa conditions. Regulated professions may still require formal recognition and authorisation.