150,000 Nigerians undergo training as FG intensifies skills-to-employment reforms

The Federal Government has intensified efforts to bridge Nigeria’s skills gap and tackle youth unemployment, revealing that more than 150,000 Nigerians are currently undergoing technical and vocational training across the country as part of ongoing reforms in the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sector.

The government disclosed at the National TVET Conference 2026 held in Lagos, where policymakers, industry leaders and development partners gathered to discuss strategies for strengthening Nigeria’s skills ecosystem and enhancing employability.

According to a statement issued on Monday by Ikharo Attah, Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Maruf Tunji Alausa, Minister of Education, said the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is leveraging the Renewed Hope Agenda to reposition education as a catalyst for economic growth, industrial development and job creation.

Speaking at the conference, Alausa noted that Nigeria’s rapidly growing population and labour force require urgent investments in practical, industry-relevant skills capable of driving innovation and entrepreneurship.

He said nearly five million young Nigerians enter the labour market annually, making skills development a critical component of the country’s economic transformation agenda.

The minister explained that through the Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative (NESRI), the Federal Government is strengthening the National Skills Qualification Framework, improving quality assurance systems and expanding competency-based training nationwide.

He disclosed that over 150,000 trainees are currently enrolled in skills development programmes across more than 1,600 accredited training centres nationwide.

According to him, the programmes are being supported by thousands of trained instructors and quality assurance officers to ensure that beneficiaries acquire market-relevant competencies and improve their chances of employment and entrepreneurship.

Alausa stated that the next phase of the reforms would focus on improving training quality, deepening private sector participation and strengthening links between training institutions and employers.

He added that emerging sectors such as artificial intelligence, robotics, renewable energy, cybersecurity and advanced manufacturing would play a significant role in shaping future employment opportunities, making continued investment in technical and vocational education essential.

In his remarks, Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, Lagos State Deputy Governor, who represented Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, described TVET as a strategic pathway to employment, innovation and economic growth.

Hamzat stressed the importance of equipping young Nigerians with practical, digital and entrepreneurial skills to meet the demands of an increasingly technology-driven and environmentally conscious global economy.

He highlighted Lagos State’s investments in technical colleges, industry partnerships and hands-on training programmes, while calling for stronger collaboration among governments, industries and development partners.

International development partners present at the conference expressed support for Nigeria’s TVET reform agenda.

Conny Cammezind, Consul General of Switzerland, reiterated her country’s commitment to supporting youth employment and entrepreneurship, while Daniel Krull, Germany’s Consul General in Nigeria, commended the Renewed Hope TVET Initiative and the SKYE II Programme for promoting demand-driven skills development.

Similarly, Karen Jansen, Chair of the TVET Donor and Development Partners Working Group, 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.

According to the statement, 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 representatives of government, industry, development agencies and educational institutions to chart a path toward a more competitive and skills-driven Nigerian economy.

Development partners including Germany, Switzerland, GIZ, SKYE II, UNESCO, UNICEF, the European Union and the Lagos State Government reaffirmed their support for Nigeria’s efforts to transform technical and vocational education into a sustainable engine for job creation and economic development.