FG INAUGURATES THE TECHNICAL, VOCATIONAL AND EDUCATIONAL TRAINING, TVET INITIATIVE 30-05-25
By Sadiq Aminu The Federal Government has inaugurated the Technical, Vocational and Educational Training, TVET initiative to provide training for millions of Nigerian youths on relevant Industry skills for self reliance.
The TVET initiative is part of efforts by the Federal government to ensure Nigerian youths especially those in the informal sector, are equipped with relevant industry skills for employability in line with global standards.
It is being implemented in collaboration with the private sector and partners.
The sources of funding include the Tertiary Education Trust fund, TETFund, the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, NELFund and World Bank loan.
At the event in Abuja, the Minister of Education, Dr. Olatunji Alausa said the initiative would address the issues of unemployment and bridge the skills gap in the country.
He said that with the over seventy percent youthful population in the country, there was an urgent need to transform the demographic potential into productive capacity.
Dr. Alausa who spoke on the key components of the initiative explained that trainees would be certified under the National Skills qualification framework, NSQF.
“We carefully planned this out, we have the master 6, master 12 and the three year programme. For master 6 is for three months, we will use the skills training centers and we are using a lot of private institutions that we have accredited and we would monitor. This is totally hands-on and anybody can get it. You don’t need any formal education. By the end of it all, you would be NSQF certified. This is an international certification. It means your degree will be recognized anywhere in the world.” Alausa said
The Minister stated that after the training, the beneficiaries would be empowered to start their own businesses.
Dr. Alausa also announced the federal government’s decision to provide free education for students in technical colleges across the country.
The Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education, Professor Idris Bugaje who gave an overview of the National Skills Qualification Framework, NSQF said it would provide a structured system for developing, classifying, and recognizing skills and competencies.
The Minister of Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande praised the resilience of Nigerian Youths and expressed confidence that the TVET Initiative would build the capacity of youths for economic growth.
” It’s a very bold step to create the atmosphere for the youths, the opportunity to practice and to get the skills, knowledge to succeed in the 21st century.”He said
The Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Mrs. Nkiruka Onyejeocha, represented by Dr. Tiza Shaakaa who expressed worry over the duplication of skills programmes with her ministry, however pledged to support the Ministry of education, to implement the programme.
At the event, the portal for registration of prospective trainees was also unveiled.
The office of the event is “Advancing skills, empowering the future”.