By Felix Khanoba
The Federal Government has reiterated its resolve to build a skills-based economy, positioning Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) as a key instrument for boosting productivity, driving industrialisation and creating sustainable employment opportunities for Nigeria’s growing youth population.
Addressing participants at the National TVET Conference 2026 in Lagos, the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, said the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, under the Renewed Hope Agenda, is implementing reforms aimed at reshaping the education sector to produce innovators, entrepreneurs, technicians and employers of labour.
According to him, the country faces increasing pressure to equip its workforce with relevant skills as nearly five million young Nigerians enter the labour market every year.
A statement issued by the Minister’s Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Ikharo Attah, on Monday, said Alausa explained that the Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative (NESRI) is being leveraged to strengthen the National Skills Qualification Framework, enhance quality assurance mechanisms and widen access to competency-based training nationwide.
The minister revealed that more than 150,000 Nigerians are currently participating in skills acquisition programmes across over 1,600 accredited training centres nationwide. He added that the initiative is being supported by thousands of instructors and quality assurance personnel to guarantee training standards and improve employability prospects.
Speaking on the next phase of the programme, Alausa said attention would shift towards improving training quality, increasing private-sector participation and strengthening links between skills development and labour market demands.
He noted that sectors such as artificial intelligence, robotics, renewable energy, cybersecurity and advanced manufacturing are expected to shape future employment opportunities, underscoring the need for sustained investment in workforce development.
The conference also recognised Alausa’s contributions to technical education reforms, conferring on him the TVET Champion of the Year Award for his role in promoting skills development as a catalyst for national growth and transformation.
Representing Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Deputy Governor Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat described TVET as a vital tool for employment generation, innovation and economic advancement. He stressed the importance of equipping young Nigerians with practical, entrepreneurial and digital competencies to remain competitive in an evolving global economy shaped by technology and green growth.
Hamzat highlighted Lagos State’s investments in technical colleges, industry collaborations and practical training programmes, while advocating stronger partnerships among government institutions, businesses and development agencies to strengthen the country’s skills ecosystem.
In his opening remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Education, Mr. Abel Olumuyiwa Enitan, reaffirmed government’s commitment to positioning TVET at the centre of employment creation, social inclusion and environmentally sustainable growth.
He pointed to ongoing efforts to upgrade technical colleges, expand competency-based learning and deepen collaboration with industry stakeholders and development partners. Enitan also urged stakeholders to ensure that training programmes are aligned with labour market requirements and commended initiatives such as WorldSkills Nigeria for supporting youth empowerment.
International development partners at the conference applauded Nigeria’s strides in implementing TVET reforms.
The Consul General of Switzerland, Ms. Conny Cammezind, restated her country’s commitment to supporting youth employment and entrepreneurship, while Germany’s Consul General in Nigeria, Mr. Daniel Krull, commended the Renewed Hope TVET Initiative and the SKYE II Programme. He emphasised the importance of industry involvement and demand-driven training in achieving sustainable outcomes.
Also speaking, Dr. Karen Jansen, Chair of the TVET Donor and Development Partners Working Group, described the conference as an important platform for strengthening employability, inclusion and green growth through enhanced policy coordination and the integration of digital and environmentally focused skills.
The three-day conference, themed “Harnessing TVET as a Pathway to Employment: Building a System for Employability, Inclusion and Green Growth in Nigeria,” attracted policymakers, industry stakeholders and development partners seeking to advance skills development and support Nigeria’s economic transformation.
