Mirian Gom 
LAGOS, Nigeria – More than 150,000 Nigerians are undergoing technical and vocational training under a sweeping Federal Government programme aimed at tackling youth unemployment, closing critical skills gaps and preparing the workforce for emerging industries including artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and renewable energy.
The initiative, unveiled on Monday at the National TVET Conference 2026 in Lagos, marks one of Nigeria’s most ambitious skills development drives in recent years as the government seeks to transform Africa’s most populous nation into a skills-driven economy.
Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, said the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programme has become a cornerstone of President Bola Tinubu’s economic reform agenda, with more than 1,600 accredited centres now training young Nigerians nationwide.
“Under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Renewed Hope Agenda, Nigeria is repositioning education to produce innovators, entrepreneurs, technicians and job creators rather than job seekers,” Alausa said.
Nigeria faces mounting pressure to create jobs for a rapidly expanding youth population, with nearly five million people entering the labour market every year. Government officials say traditional education pathways alone can no longer meet the country’s workforce demands, making TVET reforms essential for economic growth and industrial competitiveness.
According to Alausa, the programme is being implemented through the Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative (NESRI), which is strengthening the National Skills Qualification Framework, expanding competency-based learning and improving quality assurance systems to ensure graduates acquire skills that match industry needs.
The minister said thousands of instructors and quality assurance officers have been deployed across training centres to maintain standards and improve employability outcomes.
As Nigeria pushes to diversify its economy beyond oil, the government is increasingly focusing on sectors expected to generate future jobs, including artificial intelligence, robotics, advanced manufacturing, renewable energy and cybersecurity.
“The next phase is about scale, quality and stronger engagement with industry,” Alausa said, adding that closer collaboration between employers and training institutions will be critical to ensuring graduates transition directly into the workforce.
The conference also recognised Alausa’s role in advancing technical education reforms, conferring on him the TVET Champion of the Year Award.
Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, who represented Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, described technical education as a powerful tool for reducing unemployment and accelerating economic development.
He urged governments, businesses and development organisations to strengthen partnerships that equip young Nigerians with practical, entrepreneurial and digital skills needed to compete in a rapidly evolving global economy.
Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Education, Abel Olumuyiwa Enitan, said the government remains committed to making TVET a major driver of employment, inclusion and green growth.
International development partners echoed that commitment.
Representatives from Germany, Switzerland, the European Union, UNESCO, UNICEF, GIZ and the SKYE II Programme commended Nigeria’s progress in skills development and pledged continued support for ongoing reforms.
The three-day conference, themed “Harnessing TVET as a Pathway to Employment: Building a System for Employability, Inclusion and Green Growth in Nigeria,” brings together policymakers, industry leaders and development partners seeking to strengthen Nigeria’s skills ecosystem and accelerate long-term economic transformation.
About the Author
Korede Abdullah 
Oluwatobi Adu 