Hussaini Ibrahim 
Education Minister, Tunji Alausa inspects vocational training centres in Abuja under Nigeria’s TVET programme
ABUJA, Nigeria — The Federal Government says 960,000 Nigerian youths are undergoing verification to participate in the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programme, aimed at tackling unemployment and promoting self-reliance nationwide.
Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa disclosed this on Thursday during an inspection of selected partner centres in Abuja, including AFS Vocational Hub in Garki and Golden Finger Farms and Ranches along the Kubwa–Zuba Expressway.
Alausa said over 250,000 trainees are already enrolled in the first cohort across 2,600 centres, receiving hands-on training in 28 key skill areas such as fashion design, livestock production, plumbing, GSM repair, and farming.
“This initiative shows what is possible with strong political will,” Alausa said. “Every one of the 960,000 participants was verified through NIN and BVN to ensure transparency. We pay the training centres directly to avoid fraud.”
He added that the TVET curriculum is 90 per cent practical and 10 per cent theoretical, reflecting the government’s commitment to real-world employability.
“We don’t want our youths to remain job seekers; we want them to become employers of labour,” he said.
Alausa explained that training duration varies — six months at skills centres, 12 months at Vocational Enterprise Institutes, and up to three years in technical colleges.
He reaffirmed that the TVET scheme aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, describing it as a bold step toward building a self-reliant generation of young Nigerians.
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Oluwatobi Adu 
Oluwafunbi Bello 
Korede Abdullah 