FG targets millions of youths for skills acquisition, rallies global partners

The Administration of President Bola Tinubu, on Tuesday, rallied global development partners, industry leaders, and policymakers to deepen investment in the Federal Government’s ongoing skills acquisition drive, targeting millions of Nigerian youths.

Vice President Kashim Shettima also called for clarity, collaboration and coordinated results from relevant stakeholders, emphasising the need for investments in a more coherent national system, where skills lead to jobs that are enterprising enough to drive economic growth.

Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, Office of the Vice President, in a statement, said the National Skills and Industry Alignment Roundtable Series (Q1 2026) with the theme, “Bridging Skills Supply and Labour Market Demand.”,organised in conjunction with the European Union EU, was declared open by Vice President Kashim Shettima.

Shettima commended the European Union for its continued partnership and support for Nigeria’s job creation and youth development agenda.

He noted that the collaboration had been instrumental in strengthening coordination and advancing collective efforts to create opportunities for young Nigerians.

Shettima, who was represented by Ibrahim Hadejia, Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Office of the Vice President, stressed that the Country is home to one of the largest youth populations in the world, with millions entering the labour market each year—full of ambition, energy, and potential.

He, however, observed that the vast majority of available jobs are informal, unstable, and not fully connected to productivity and growth, requiring sustained and targeted interventions to ensure graduates are job-ready and equipped with relevant skills.

“This tells us one thing very clearly—the challenge is not simply job creation; it is alignment. Nigeria does not have a talent problem. Until skills meet industry demand, job creation will remain below its full potential,” he said.

Spotlighting the Government’s position, the Vice President affirmed that the Tinubu’s Aministration is determined to address this challenge.

“We are moving away from fragmented programmes, isolated interventions, and uncoordinated investments toward a more coherent national system—one where skills lead to jobs, jobs lead to enterprise, and enterprise drives economic growth.

“Last year, under the leadership of the Vice President and with the support of the European Union, the Office of the Vice President undertook a mapping of the national job creation ecosystem and convened a National High-Level Policy Dialogue on Job Creation.

“That engagement made it clear that sustainable employment will not come from government alone, but from a coordinated ecosystem where the private sector leads and government enables”, he said.

Shettima noted that the Roundtable Series was designed as a structured platform for engagement, bringing together policymakers, industry leaders, development partners, and institutions to align efforts, build trust, and drive practical solutions.

“Job creation cannot be outsourced to government alone—industry must take its place at the table, not just as employers but as co-creators of the workforce Nigeria needs. The private sector must clearly articulate the skills it requires and actively participate in shaping them.

“Development partners also have a critical role—not just in funding programmes, but in supporting alignment, coordination, and scale around what works. Ultimately, what we are seeking is simple—clarity, collaboration, and results,” the VP said.

Earlier, Ahmed Dangiwa, Minister of Housing and Urban Development, in his remarks, stated that the roundtable was very important to the ministry, noting that many employers are seeking skilled workers.

He explained that housing development involves a wide chain of activities—from architects to engineers to bricklayers—and requires collaboration among stakeholders and development partners to address the housing deficit, which will, in turn, drive economic growth.

Massimo De Luca, EU Head of Cooperation for Nigeria and ECOWAS, , acknowledged ongoing collaboration with the Office of the Vice President, the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, and other development partners, including the Tony Elumelu Foundation, to drive impact in skills development and job creation.

According to him, the EU has, in recent years, focused on fostering organic engagement within Nigeria’s production system.

“We grow skills where they matter, where they are required, and where they are defined,” he said, commending the Office of the Vice President for ensuring that relevant fellowship programmes for Nigerians such as 3MTT are embedded within a broader ecosystem.

Akubo Adegbe, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Delivery and Coordination, described the roundtable series as a deliberate and ongoing effort by the Office of the Vice President and the EU to strengthen coordination across Nigeria’s job creation ecosystem.

He added that the series serves as a structured platform to bring together key actors to deliberate on how to impact priority sectors of the economy, moving from collaboration to measurable outcomes.

Other participants at the roundtable include representatives of the Organised Private Sector, the German Agency for International Cooperation, the Tony Elumelu Foundation, and the Aliko Dangote Foundation.