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From Adanna Nnamani, Abuja
The Federal Government, in collaboration with the World Bank, has commenced a fresh technical and vocational training programme targeting 80,000 young Nigerians nationwide.
The programme, being implemented through the Innovation Development and Effectiveness in the Acquisition of Skills (IDEAS) Project of the Federal Ministry of Education, was formally flagged off Friday in Abuja for the third cohort.
The joint ceremony, held at the Abuja Trade and Convention Centre, marked the commencement of training for 777 young Nigerians across seven accredited Training Service Providers in the Federal Capital Territory.
The IDEAS Project is designed to expand access to quality technical and vocational education and training, with participating providers delivering competency-based training aligned with National Skills Qualification standards, followed by industry internship and employment support.
The training covers various sectors of the economy, including digital and creative media, beauty and cosmetology, construction and building trades, agriculture and agribusiness.
Speaking at the ceremony, 1st Deputy President of the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) and Chairman of the ACCI Business Entrepreneurship Skills and Technology (BEST) Centre, Prof. Adesoji Adesugba, said the initiative would help address the skills gap in the Nigerian labour market.
Adesugba said: “Nigeria’s challenge is not a shortage of young people. It is a shortage of young people equipped with skills the market is willing to pay for.
“Our economy does not need more certificates. It needs more competence. That is why this programme is deliberately practical. By the end of it, each trainee will hold not just a certificate, but a portfolio of real work.”
He urged the trainees to maximise the opportunity, noting that their course fees, equipment, facilities and instruction had been funded under the programme.
He said the skills acquired through the training would remain valuable to the beneficiaries beyond the programme.
The ceremony featured goodwill messages from partners and stakeholders, an address by the National Project Coordinator of the IDEAS-TVET Project and a presentation on the objectives and expected outcomes of the programme.
Some of the trainees also shared their experiences, highlighting the skills and practical knowledge acquired, the facilities available at their centres and their plans to deploy the skills after completing the training.
The seven Training Service Providers participating in the Abuja flag-off are the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry Business Entrepreneurship Skills and Technology (BEST) Centre, Onidiri Home of Beauty, Gemological Institute of Nigeria, and iLearn Learning Spaces.
Others are; Germnig Consultants Limited, Dari Investments Limited, and Binley and Bramble in partnership with School Hunters.
The IDEAS Project is funded with support from the World Bank and seeks to improve the quality and relevance of technical and vocational education and training, strengthen skills delivery institutions and improve labour market outcomes for young Nigerians.
