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Nigeria’s greatest economic asset is not oil—it is its people. Across the country, millions of skilled artisans drive production in fashion, leather, furniture, metalworks and other industries.
Yet most remain outside the formal economy because their skills have never been officially recognized.
The National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) is addressing this challenge through its “Skills, Not Degrees” campaign, which seeks to formalize an estimated 120 million skilled but uncertified Nigerians using the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) framework.
Through RPL, experienced artisans can obtain nationally recognized certifications based on their competencies rather than formal academic qualifications.
While this is a landmark national reform, implementation at scale requires strong state-level partnerships. This is where Governor Alex Chioma Otti, OFR, and the Abia State Government have demonstrated remarkable leadership.
Through the MSME Competitiveness and Industrial Productivity Program (MCIPP), implemented in partnership with Ethnocentrique Limited, Abia State is supporting the RPL assessment and certification of 1,000 artisans—positioning the state as a national leader in skills formalization.
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This intervention significantly strengthens the NBTE’s campaign, which, since its launch last year, has certified only about 500 artisans across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
Governor Otti’s vision goes beyond skills certification. The MCIPP adopts a holistic approach to MSME development by combining artisan certification with business formalization, trademark registration to protect indigenous brands, the training and certification of Business Development Service Providers (BDSPs), and the development of certified Quality Assurance Assessors to improve production standards.
Together, these interventions address the fundamental barriers limiting the growth of Nigerian MSMEs. Certified artisans become more competitive, formally registered businesses gain improved access to finance and government support, protected brands can confidently expand into new markets, and stronger business support and quality assurance systems help enterprises compete nationally and internationally.
As Nigeria positions itself to benefit from the opportunities created by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), strengthening the MSME ecosystem has never been more important. Abia State’s partnership with Ethnocentrique Limited demonstrates how strategic public-private collaboration can accelerate enterprise development, improve productivity and promote inclusive industrial growth.
Governor Alex Otti’s investment in the MCIPP is therefore more than a state initiative; it is a practical model for national economic transformation.
By formalizing skills, strengthening businesses and building institutional capacity, Abia State is not only boosting its own economy but also providing a blueprint for building a more competitive and globally connected MSME landscape in Nigeria.
