The Federal Ministry of Education has unveiled fresh details of its ambitious Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programme, describing it as the backbone of Nigeria’s transition to a skills-driven economy.

Officials revealed that 100,000 young Nigerians are currently enrolled in industry-relevant training programmes, with plans to scale up to 250,000 in the next three months and surpass one million trainees within two years.

The initiative, positioned as a cornerstone of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, is designed to close the country’s chronic skills gap and reduce reliance on foreign expertise in mega-projects. In a December 14 press release, the ministry stressed that sustainable development depends on skilled human capital, and that Nigeria must urgently build a workforce capable of operating, maintaining, and expanding its industries.

Training is underway across more than 1,600 programmes in Federal and State Technical Colleges, Skills Training Centres, and accredited Vocational Enterprise Institutions. Focus areas include industrial mechanics, electrical installation, welding and fabrication, mechatronics, solar PV installation, compressed natural gas (CNG) conversion and maintenance, refrigeration and HVAC systems, ICT, and other high-demand trades. The curriculum has been updated in collaboration with industry to ensure graduates are not only certified but employable and job-ready.

To support access and retention, stipends have already been disbursed to trainees, with payments also released to training centres to strengthen accountability. The ministry highlighted ongoing revitalisation of institutions, including modern equipment procurement, instructor development, and quality assurance through deployed assessors and managers.

International partnerships are being leveraged to modernise curricula, train instructors, and facilitate knowledge transfer, but officials emphasised that these collaborations are intended to build Nigerian capacity rather than substitute foreign labour. The rollout has been described as a “phenomenal success so far,” with structured stipends reinforcing completion rates and boosting confidence among participants.

Education stakeholders have welcomed the programme as a long-overdue intervention. Industry leaders say it could transform Nigeria’s labour market by producing a new generation of skilled technicians and artisans, while youth groups view it as a pathway to employment and entrepreneurship. Critics, however, caution that sustaining momentum will require consistent funding, transparent monitoring, and strong alignment with private sector demand.

The ministry insists the initiative is designed to position Nigerian youth as active participants and leaders in national development. By equipping them with practical skills, officials argue, the country can reduce unemployment, strengthen industrial competitiveness, and ensure that future mega-projects are driven by local expertise rather than imported labour.