Singapore to Train Nigerian Technical Instructors Under New Education Pact

Singapore to Train Nigerian Technical Instructors Under New Education Pact
Under the agreement, the Singapore institute will support Nigeria in strengthening the capacity of instructors in technical institutions through a specialised Train-the-Trainer programme
Alausa noted that Singapore’s technical education model has become a global reference point for building highly skilled workforces

Nigeria is taking a major step toward upgrading its technical education system following a new international collaboration with ITE Education Services (ITEES) of Singapore.

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Eko Hot Blog reports that the partnership, formalised through an agreement signed between the Federal Ministry of Education Nigeria and the Singapore-based institution, is expected to help modernise the country’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) framework and align it with global standards.

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The signing ceremony, held simultaneously in Abuja and Singapore, had officials from the National Board for Technical Education representing Nigeria, while Singapore was represented by ITEES.

Under the agreement, the Singapore institute will support Nigeria in strengthening the capacity of instructors in technical institutions through a specialised Train-the-Trainer programme. The initiative is designed to improve teaching methods, assessment techniques and overall instructional quality in technical colleges across the country.

Beyond instructor training, the collaboration will also focus on strengthening leadership within Nigeria’s technical institutions. Principals and heads of departments from selected institutions will undergo leadership training programmes in Singapore aimed at improving institutional management and innovation in skills training.

A key component of the partnership is the introduction of the Global Excellence Model for Skills Training (GEMSET) in Nigeria. The framework will evaluate technical institutions using internationally recognised benchmarks covering seven key areas of TVET excellence.

Through the model, institutions will receive guidance on upgrading workshops, improving training facilities and aligning their programmes with global best practices in technical education.

The agreement builds on earlier engagements initiated during the 2025 visit of Nigeria’s Minister of Education, Maruf Tunji Alausa, to Singapore where he held discussions with Singapore’s education authorities and toured the country’s technical education facilities.

Singapore to Train Nigerian Technical Instructors Under New Education Pact

During the visit, Alausa met with Singapore’s Minister of Education, Desmond Lee, and explored possible areas of collaboration aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s skills development ecosystem.

Speaking on the significance of the partnership, the minister noted that Singapore’s technical education model has become a global reference point for building highly skilled workforces.

According to him, Nigeria’s collaboration with ITEES will accelerate reforms in the country’s technical education sector by equipping educators with modern teaching tools and strengthening institutional capacity.

He added that the initiative supports the government’s broader plan to reposition technical education as a critical driver of economic growth, job creation and industrial development.

The programme also aligns with the ministry’s National Education, Skills and Research for Innovation agenda and the broader economic vision of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to build a skills-driven and globally competitive economy.

Education officials say the partnership represents another step in Nigeria’s effort to leverage international expertise to improve its technical training system and prepare young Nigerians for emerging opportunities in the global labour market.