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Tag: vocational training

  • 75,000 youths receive vocational training

    75,000 youths receive vocational training

    Federal Government has trained more than 75,000 youths in skill acquisition through Innovation Development and Effective in the Acquisition of Skills (IDEAS) TVET initiative.

    National Project Coordinator, Mrs Blessing Ogwu, spoke at the launch of six months’ free training of 100 trainees in Agriculture and Aquaculture in Badagry, Lagos State.

    The programme is organised by Federal Ministry of Education, IDEAS-TVET Initiative, in conjunction with SejFarms Consults Limited.

    Ogwu said the training had been on since five years ago, though there were other components.

    “But for this IDEAS-TVET Initiative, it started in late 2024 and we have done the first cohort. This is the second cohort.

    “The aim is to train youths in skills, especially skill transfer.

    “What youths need most is to be taken off the streets and equipped to be self-sustained.’’

    “So far, we are looking at engaging over 75,000 youths before the end of the programme,” she further said.

    She lauded the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa and World Bank for helping youths.

    The Managing Director, SejFarms Consults Ltd, Mr Sejiro Oke-Tojinu, said the participants, mainly graduate of agriculture, would become better farmers that would improve food security agenda by the Federal Government.

    Read Also: NIS to introduce emergency passport for Nigerians abroad

    Mr Nurudeen Tiamiyu, the coordinator of the training, said after the programme, participants should have enough hands on experience in agriculture in the whole value chain.

    Mr Peter Dansu, the media aide to Prince Sesi Whingan, the lawmaker representing Badagry Federal Constituency, advised beneficiaries of the training to take advantage of the programme to become professional farmers.

    Mr Augustine Kiki, a teacher, who represented Lagos State Commissioner for Youths and Social Development, Mr Mobolaji Ogunlende, enjoined the beneficiaries to take the training seriously and make best out of it.

    Assistant Chief Fisheries Officer, Ministry of Agriculture and Food systems, Mrs Toying PoT-Balogun, advised the beneficiaries to make Lagos proud by taking advantage of the programme for their own benefits.

  • Fed Govt targets 7m to empower with digital skills, vocational training

    Fed Govt targets 7m to empower with digital skills, vocational training

    The Federal Government has announced plans to empower at least seven million youths with dual vocational training and digital skills development programmes.

    Minister of Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande, made this known during a courtesy visit by a delegation from the IHK Giessen-Friedberg Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Germany in Abuja on Tuesday.

    In a statement by the Director (Information and Public Relations), Federal Ministry of Youth Development, Omolara Esan the Minister explained that the initiative underscores the government’s commitment to equipping young Nigerians with practical, industry-relevant skills that foster self-reliance, innovation, and employability.

    He noted that the Federal Government, through the Nigerian Youth Academy (NIYA), is strengthening partnerships with German and Nigerian institutions to expand access to vocational and digital training opportunities, in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda for youth empowerment.

    “Our goal is not just to produce job seekers but to nurture innovators and entrepreneurs who will contribute meaningfully to the nation’s economy,” the minister stated.

    Read Also: Don Jazzy: I can afford a private jet but I’d rather invest in skills

    He emphasised the ministry’s readiness to deepen collaboration with institutions such as the Chambers Academy, the Nigerian Institute for Vocational Training and Corporate Development, and the German Chambers of Commerce, as well as relevant ministries and agencies, including those of Labour and Science, to broaden vocational and digital learning opportunities nationwide.

    The Minister added that the ministry will soon launch a digital learning platform under the Nigerian Youth Academy, modelled after global platforms such as Coursera, to make skill acquisition easily accessible to young Nigerians across the country.

    He described the ministry’s youth development strategy as a tripartite framework anchored on Support, Empowerment, and Protection, designed to ensure that every young Nigerian can thrive in a globally competitive environment.

    “This collaboration is not just about programmes; it is about building the future of our young people. Together, we can ensure that Nigerian youth are empowered, innovative, and globally competitive,” the minister added.

    Chief Executive Officer of the IHK Giessen-Friedberg Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Dr. Matthias Leder reaffirmed the Chamber’s commitment to supporting Nigerian youth through vocational training and legal migration initiatives.

    He commended the Federal Government’s leadership in advancing youth skills development and highlighted the success of ongoing bilateral programmes between Nigeria and Germany.

    Dr. Leder disclosed that 300 Nigerian youths have been selected for the Legal Labour Migration and Dual Vocational Training Project and will be honoured in Lagos on November 12, 2025, after completing their A1 German language level.

    He praised the German dual training model, where apprentices earn from the first day, and called for stronger cooperation between Nigerian and German institutions to expand opportunities for young people and deepen bilateral relations.

  • Firm targets vocational training for 500,000 women

    Firm targets vocational training for 500,000 women

    Foremost recruitment firm, Jobberman, has launched a gender campaign focused on elevating entrepreneurship and vocational training for young women in Kaduna, Kano, Adamawa, Ondo, Katsina, Bauchi, Delta, Ogun, Benue, Edo, Lagos, and Oyo states.

    The campaign, tagged ‘She’s More’ and launched during a press conference in Lagos, is a female-focused social awareness initiative created to elevate vocational skill training among women and empower them in fields such as baking, tailoring and cloth making.

    Read Also: Presidency starts vocational training for inmates

    The firm explained that the goal of the campaign is to train over 558,000 young women in business management, vocational skills, soft skills, and financial literacy and to support about 204,000 of them to start their businesses and help them become employers of labour.

  • Presidency starts vocational training for inmates

    Presidency starts vocational training for inmates

    Plans are afoot by the Federal Government to train and empower 500 inmates in each of the 240 correctional facilities nationwide in various skills for life after their terms.

    The pilot scheme of the project started at the Kuje Correctional Center.

    Senior Special Assistant to the President on Technical, Vocational and Entrepreneurship Education, Miss. Abiola Arogundade announced this to newsmen in Abuja.

    The Presidential aide said the empowerment was part of the plan of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to reduce 133 million people who are said to be living in poverty in Nigeria.

    Arogundade said that the training offers inmates, especially those about to complete their terms personal and professional growth opportunities, including vocational training, stressing that the approach was to prepare inmates for post-incarceration life, investing in their future and societal well-being.

    The presidential aide stressed that the inmates would be trained in design designing, Information Technology, soap making, fashion, poultry, and fishing, among others. 

    She stated: “We have also started training in the correctional centres. We launched the scheme in Kuje. We took a few members from my office to the correctional centre to do an audit of the needs of the inmates. I’m happy to announce that we started conducting the assessment and auditing of the trainees. 

    Read Also: 300 Kano prison inmates incarcerated without records, say Police

    “We are happy to also announce that we have secured it for every single person in training. At the end of their prison terms and our training, we give you N500,000 to set up your business so you don’t become a second-time offender at a correctional centre. This scheme is ongoing. 

    “So after Kuje Correctional Centre, we are moving to Suleja. We are going to try and duplicate this intervention in all our correctional centres across the country.”

    She further said, “We would like to train a minimum of 500 inmates. In Kuje now there are 723 of them we would like to train a minimum of 500 and the reason is that we can not compel them to be trained is something that you want to do, not something like the military.”

    Explaining further, the Presidential aide said the training would run for six months and nine months, depending on what inmates want to do. 

    “We are also training the beneficiaries. For example, if you are going to be a hairdresser, we train you on how to have the best skills in hairdressing. We empower you with the kiosk. Not only that, the kiosk will have three streams of income. You can use the kiosk for your main skill which in this case as I mentioned, will be hairdressing, you can use it for POS business and other ventures. 

    “So we are partnering with the bank. They will supply the POS and also you can use it to charge phones. We are using that as a multi-purpose intervention for three streams of income which we are launching today and we will be giving it out to the beneficiaries after we train and certify them,” she said.

  • Minister: govt committed to revamp vocational training

    Minister: govt committed to revamp vocational training

    Minister of Education Prof. Mamman Tahir has restated the Federal Government’s commitment to equip the youths with sustainable life skills.

    The minister said this during an inspection of the ongoing construction of vocational training centre in Yola.

    According to him, the President Bola Tinubu administration is desirous at ensuring that young Nigerians have integrated education which combines technical skills acquisition with regular learning.

    He said: “This development will secure the future of the youths and enable them securitise their future by having sustainable incomes and life skills even if they do not further their education.’’

    The minister, who expressed happiness with the level of work attained so far, urged the contractor to meet up with the deadline and ensure quality service delivery.

    “This is one of the projects across the country and this government is interested in bridging the gap between what is approved and what is on ground.

    “So, we want to see the projects being executed according the terms of the contract.

    Read Also: FCTA endorses vocational training in schools

    “This vocational school is a school meant to provide the students with skills beyond literacy and numeracy throughout the period of their stay.

    `So, by the time they finish the school, they will have acquired some technical skills and they can go with their lives even without further education,” minister said.

    According to him, the Tinubu administration has placed much premium on education by putting the sector at the forefront of his agenda.

    He said the Federal Government undertook series of programmes to revamp the sector which included the development of a roadmap on education which began two weeks after its inauguration.

    “We have developed a roadmap to cover the entire education sector and that roadmap has been tested and discussed at various forum and stakeholders levels.

    “The National Council on Education also adopted the roadmap in December and we are set to implement it,” he said.

  • Vocational training centre for Ondo youths

    The Association of Positive Minded Friend (APF) has enlisted over 80 youths in Ondo City for vocational and technical training in order to add value to their lives and eradicate anti-social vices from society.

    Chairman of the association, Ebenezer Akinduyite spoke during the official inauguration of Vocational Technical Training for youths held at the Oba Oludoko Palace, Ondo.

    The chairman who was represented by the Secretary of the Association, Mr. Olakunle Martins said the association was established to eradicate cultism, crime, drugs abuse and other anti-social vices and to add values to the lives of the widows and widowers.

    According to him, when the youth are not engaged in job that could add values to their lives, they will be used as political thugs in the coming elections.

    Akinduyite, however, said the association had no political undertone but to empower the youth in Ondo and its environs for continuous peaceful co-existence.

    He, therefore, advised the participants to embrace the programme and endeavour to manage it thoroughly.

    Also, the Chairman of APF Advisory Board, Dr. Ajisola Omojeje urged the participants to key into the opportunity as it would be of great benefits to them.

     

  • 900 youths for vocational training

    Vine hundred persons will benefit from the Lagos State youth vocational training tagged: “Youth Economic Empowerment Scheme (YEES), Commissioner for  Youth and Social Development Agboola Dabiri said yesterday.

    Dabiri spoke at the orientation and self-development session for YEES, in different vocational skills.

    Represented by the Director of Administration and Human Resource, Yewande Falugba, Dabiri described the training as a tool for solving the escalating problem of youth unemployment in the state.

    According to him: “The goal of the training programme is to make the trained youth self-reliant, promote the spirit of entrepreneurship thereby helping to generate employment, reduce poverty, boost economic development and reduce the rate of crime and youth restiveness.

    “The ministry would train 900 young people in various skills, including, make-over, gele (head gear) tying, shoe making and tailoring.”

    He implored the facilitators to impact invaluable knowledge in the participants. He urged the trainees to make the best use of the opportunities at their disposal, adding that it would serve as an eye opener in unleashing their creativity.

    The ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Akeem Muri-Okunola, represented by the Director of Youth Development Department, Mr Bode Adams, urged participants to see the training as an opportunity to re-examine themselves.

    “The ministry would continue to create conducive environment for youths through life-enhancing policies and programmes.

    An Assistant Director in the ministry, Mr Julius Olukosi, said the training would hold simultaneously at the designated youth centres.

    “The training is free and the state government has provided all needed equipment’s, material and consumables for the training in all the centres. It would run from March to November,” he said.

  • Daddy Showkey seeks support for vocational training

    GOtv Ambassador and veteran singer, Daddy Showkey, has underscored the need for vocational skills training of pupils.

    He spoke at the graduation of Rybeka Model College, Ajegunle, Lagos.

    “I always advise people that there is nothing greater than making a child develop a skill. I could remember that in my time, I used to represent my school in debate competitions and those things have impacted me today.

    “Vocational skills promote entrepreneurship. I am strongly advocating that government should reintroduce vocational studies into the school curriculum. The reason most people  are waiting for the government to provide jobs is because of lack of vocational training. Vocational schools will make our teeming youth population self-dependent,’’ he said.

    The musician rewarded four pupils with GOtv decoders for their outstanding academic performances. Showkey, who was born and raised in Ajegunle, said it was necessary for him to give back to his society and encourage the pupils so that they could achieve their aspirations irrespective of where they come from.

    Presenting the gifts, he noted that it was an educative tool that provides learning platforms to expand their horizon of knowledge.

    Feeling excited that he had visited his neighbourhood, he said: “This is my root. I have come to enjoy myself with the children. For many years, I haven’t attended any graduation, so I decided to come and celebrate with them.”

    He thrilled the pupils and their parents with his songs.

    Best overall graduand, Goodness Egbuline, said she was happy the musician honoured the school’s invitation to the graduation.

    “I am happy he came to my school.  I have not met him before but seeing him today makes me happy,” she said.

    The school’s Director of Studies, Charles Oyeka, said Daddy Showkey was an inspiration to the pupils.

    “It is our goal to develop the child mentally, physically, emotionally and socially. The school places emphasis on arts and culture. It is not everyone that will be a lawyer, doctor or engineer. Daddy Showkey’s humble beginning, life toils and success, which he shared with our students, show that any child, who is ambitious and backs it with action, will excel in life,” he said.

  • Germany urges Nigeria to step up vocational training

    The German Government has charged Nigeria to strengthen her  efforts at pulling  out  of   recession with vocational skills development, especially among youths.

    The Head, Delegation of German Industry and Commerce, Nigeria, Dr. Marc Lucassen, urged the Federal Government to learn from her German counterpart who, despite not having crude oil and agricultural   resources,   boosted   her   Gross   Domestic  Product (GDP) and reduced  unemployment through Dual Vocational Training (DVT).

    He spoke during at the graduation of the first batch of apprentices in Office Administration Profession in Ogun State of the on-going German Dual Vocational Training Partnership with Nigeria (G-DVTPW-N).

    Lucassen said for Nigeria to exit recession it must integrate DVT and collaborate with the private sector, stressing that DVT is better driven with Public-Private Partnership (PPP) initiative.

    The G-DVTPW-N Programme Coordinator, Kehinde Stephen Awoyele, explained that  G-DVTPW-N was an initiative of the Federal Republic of Germany geared towards raising the employability bar of youths and reducing poverty in the country.

    He said the programme was being financed by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation   and   Development   and   conducted   by  sequagGmbH.   It’s   steered   by   the   CCI Giessen-Friedberg as the German project partner.

  • Ngige wants synergy among FG agencies on vocational training

    Ngige wants synergy among FG agencies on vocational training

    The Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige has called for synergy among Federal Government agencies in charge of skill acquisition and vocational training to ensure the full realization of the government objective on job creation.

    Senator Ngige said vocational training was the key to unlocking the potentials of Nigerian youths and stemming the tide of unemployment in the country.

    The Minister spoke at the graduation ceremony of Ganduje Auto-Mechanic Training and Empowerment Scheme as well as the training of Kano Zonal Staff and Management of parastatals under the Ministry of Labour and Employment and the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) in Kano.

    He said; “Training of youths in vocational trade is in line with President Muhammadu Buhari led administration’s cardinal objective on youth entrepreneurship and job creation. We have relentlessly been pursuing this in order to fully tap into the elastic opportunities provided by investments in blue collar jobs.

    He challenged Nigerian youths to key into the various vocational training programmes of the Federal Government such as the N-Power initiative as well as other artisan and craftsmen training of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment offered by the Specialized Skills Upgrading and Vocational Training Centres.

    According to him, the “Federal Government N-Power Build is an initiative under the N-power job creation scheme planned to develop workforce for a wide range of artisanal jobs in the Construction and housing industry.

    “This would impact on other economic sectors by building the capacity of a critical mass of young Nigerians interested in the construction and housing industry leading to efficient service delivery and increase the number of available job opportunities, reduce unemployment, improve incomes level, poverty reduction and economic vulnerability of unemployed Nigerians.”

    Inspecting an under-utilized facilities at the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) in Kano, Sen. Ngige described the situation as antithetical to the change Agenda of the present administration and urged the Kano State Coordinator of the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) Iliyasu Ahmed to urgently exploit the training capacity at the centre for the benefits of the teaming Kano youths

    “The essence of inter-agency collaboration especially when they are offering the same service is utmost in achieving the purpose for which government created such agencies.  

    “The NDE office in Kano is poorly equipped, though we are planning to do something urgent about this, but here we are amidst expansive facilities at the ITF. A situation where the NDE in the same city cannot take a full advantage of this is not excusable.

    “All the skills acquisition centres across the Federation owned by the states and Federal government must work in mutual collaboration so as to be on the same page in terms of quality of skills, certificates awarded, as well as enable them share in the benefits of inter-agency cooperation. I therefore, expect that in the next few months, I would have gotten a full report on the number of trainees the NDE has brought for different training programmes here.” 

    At the zonal office of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) Kano, the Minister frowned at the contributions from the zone comprising Kano, Jigawa, Sokoto, Zamfara and Kebbi states, saying it was grossly below its potential.

     He urged the management and staff to be alive to their responsibilities. 

    Placed fourth out of the six zones in the country and with a contribution of about 160 million in 2016, the Minister expressed dissatisfaction over the development, insisting the zone could do much better.

    The Minister charged the agency to reach out to the public, enroll more agencies and companies so as to enable workers benefit from the provisions of the Compensation Act while pledging the commitment of the Federal Government to the welfare of Nigerian workers.