By Deborah Nnamdi with Agency Report
The Federal Government has unveiled an ambitious plan to train at least five million Nigerian youths in practical, industry-relevant, and income-generating skills over the next few years.
Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, made the announcement during the official launch of the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Initiative in Abuja on Friday.
Alausa revealed that the TVET application portal opens today (Friday), giving young Nigerians the opportunity to enrol for free training in high-demand fields such as coding, cloud computing, and data analytics.
“This isn’t a projection—it’s a mission supported by strategic investments, a solid implementation framework, and multiple partnerships,” he said.
Highlighting the programme’s demand-driven focus, Alausa noted that 25 trade areas have been developed based on labour market analysis and industry consultations. These include sectors such as ICT, renewable energy, construction, agriculture, creative arts, and the automotive industry.
He stressed that the reform is designed to be inclusive, decentralised, and collaborative, with active engagement from state governments, education commissioners, sector skill councils, regulatory bodies, employers, and development partners.
Drawing inspiration from global examples, Alausa pointed out that countries like Germany, South Korea, Singapore, and China have long relied on technical education as a pillar of economic growth. “We’re not reinventing the wheel—we’re following the proven path of the world’s most successful economies,” he said.
The programme will span three years and be delivered through federal and state institutions, offering multi-level certifications. Accredited private institutions and skilled artisans will also serve as training centres to ensure scale and quality.
To encourage mentorship, artisans will receive N30,000 monthly per student as an incentive to train apprentices, fostering a self-sustaining ecosystem of job creation. Graduates will be equipped with starter kits tailored to their specific trades—tools for electricians, plumbers, carpenters, and others—to help them launch into work immediately.
The initiative will also provide access to soft loans and entrepreneurial support in collaboration with the Bank of Industry, enabling participants to start their own businesses.
“Whether youths choose employment or entrepreneurship, we are committed to supporting them. This is how we create jobs and build wealth,” Alausa stated.
To ensure transparency, geofencing technology and National Identity Number (NIN) verification will be used to track attendance and performance. All disbursements—including stipends and training centre payments—will be managed via the NELFUND platform.
The ultimate objective, he added, is to cultivate a skilled, globally competitive, and entrepreneurial workforce.
Also speaking at the launch, Prof. Idris Bugaje, Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), insisted that TVET should remain under the Ministry of Education rather than be transferred to the Ministry of Labour and Employment. He also called for the Nigerian Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF) to stay aligned with global standards under the education ministry.
Bugaje proposed a monthly stipend of N77,000 for TVET students to boost enrolment.
Nigeria’s first female mechanic, Sandra Aguebor, also spoke at the event, advocating for more skilled workers in the automotive sector and greater inclusion of women. She noted that her association has already trained over 6,000 female mechanics and called for further support for women in technical education.
