- FG Trains 150,000 Youths Through TVET Programme
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The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to building a skills-driven economy, describing Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) as a critical tool for boosting productivity, industrial growth and sustainable job creation across the country, Eko Hot Blog reports.
Speaking at the 2026 National TVET Conference in Lagos, the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, said the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is repositioning Nigeria’s education system to produce innovators, entrepreneurs, technicians and job creators capable of driving economic development.
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Alausa noted that with nearly five million young Nigerians entering the labour market annually, the need for industry-relevant skills has become more urgent than ever.
According to the minister, the government is implementing reforms through the Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative (NESRI), aimed at strengthening the National Skills Qualification Framework, improving quality assurance and expanding competency-based training nationwide.
He disclosed that more than 150,000 trainees are currently undergoing skills development programmes in over 1,600 accredited centres across the country. The initiative, he said, is being supported by trained instructors and quality assurance officers to ensure standardisation and improved employability outcomes.
The minister explained that the next phase of the programme would focus on improving training quality, expanding private sector participation and strengthening connections between skills acquisition and labour market opportunities.
He identified emerging sectors such as artificial intelligence, robotics, renewable energy, cybersecurity and advanced manufacturing as key areas that will shape future employment opportunities and economic growth.
In recognition of his contributions to technical education reforms and skills development, Alausa was presented with the TVET Champion of the Year Award during the conference.
Representing Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu at the event, Deputy Governor Dr. Obafemi Hamzat described TVET as a strategic pathway to employment, innovation and national development.
Hamzat stressed the importance of equipping young Nigerians with practical, digital and entrepreneurial skills to compete in a rapidly evolving global economy driven by technology and green growth.
He highlighted Lagos State’s investments in technical colleges, industry partnerships and hands-on training programmes, while calling for stronger collaboration between government, industry players and development partners.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Education, Abel Olumuyiwa Enitan, reiterated the government’s commitment to making TVET a major driver of employment, inclusion and green growth.
He said efforts were ongoing to strengthen technical colleges, expand competency-based learning and deepen partnerships with industries and development organisations.
Enitan urged stakeholders to ensure that training programmes align with labour market demands and translate into practical opportunities for young Nigerians.
International development partners also commended Nigeria’s progress in TVET reforms.
The Consul General of Switzerland, Conny Cammezind, reaffirmed support for youth employment and entrepreneurship initiatives, while Germany’s Consul General in Nigeria, Daniel Krull, praised the Renewed Hope TVET Initiative and the SKYE II Programme.
Krull emphasised the need for greater industry participation and demand-driven skills development.
Similarly, Chair of the TVET Donor and Development Partners Working Group, Dr. Karen Jansen, described the conference as an important platform for advancing employability, inclusion and green growth through stronger policy coordination and the integration of digital and green skills into training programmes.
The three-day conference, themed “Harnessing TVET as a Pathway to Employment: Building a System for Employability, Inclusion and Green Growth in Nigeria,” brought together policymakers, industry leaders and development partners to explore strategies for strengthening Nigeria’s skills ecosystem and accelerating economic transformation.
