FG Begins Vocational Training For 777 Youths
Edited by Ajedoyin Dorcas OLOJEDE, Paul Elegbeleye and Toluwalase Solanke
FG Begins Vocational Training for 777 Youths
Edited by Ajédoyin Olojede
The Federal Government has commenced technical and vocational training for 777 young Nigerians in Abuja.
This is part of efforts to equip youths with practical skills and improve their chances of securing employment or becoming entrepreneurs.
The training is being implemented under the third cohort of the Innovation Development and Effectiveness in the Acquisition of Skills (IDEAS) Project, an initiative of the Federal Ministry of Education, supported by the World Bank.
The programme is designed to expand access to quality technical and vocational education and training across Nigeria, while strengthening the connection between skills development and labour-market demands.
The latest cohort was officially inaugurated in Abuja, with seven accredited Training Service Providers, participating in the programme.
The 777 beneficiaries are receiving training in various fields, including digital and creative media, beauty and cosmetology, construction and building trades, agriculture and agribusiness, among other market-driven areas.
Speaking at the inauguration, the President of the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), Chief Emeka Obegolu, represented by the First Deputy President, Prof. Adesoji Adesugba, stressed the importance of equipping young Nigerians with skills that respond directly to the needs of the labour market.
He noted that Nigeria’s challenge was not a shortage of young people, but a shortage of youths with practical skills that employers and consumers were willing to pay for.
According to the organisers, the training is deliberately practical. Participants are expected to demonstrate their abilities through real assignments and completed projects, rather than relying solely on classroom instruction.
At the end of the programme, trainees are expected to receive certificates, as well as portfolios demonstrating their practical experience, which could help them pursue employment, freelancing, or entrepreneurship.
The programme also places emphasis on competency assessment. The trainees are expected to receive competency-based training, aligned with National Skills Qualification (NSQ) standards, followed by industry internships and employment support.
The seven training providers, participating in the Abuja cohort include the ACCI Business Entrepreneurship Skills and Technology (BEST) Centre, Onidiri Home of Beauty, Gemological Institute of Nigeria, iLearn Learning Spaces, Germnig Consultants Limited, Dari Investments Limited and Binley and Bramble, in partnership with School Hunters.
The Abuja beneficiaries form part of a much greater national effort. According to the organisers, approximately 80,000 young Nigerians are being trained across the different cohorts of the IDEAS Project.
Reports from the training centres indicate that participants in areas such as construction, fashion, beauty and creative media are gaining practical experience and, in some cases, beginning to access employment and business opportunities.
The initiative also highlights the growing importance of practical skills in Nigeria’s changing economy. As technology and business practices continue to evolve, young people require more than academic qualifications to remain competitive.
Technical competence, creativity, digital literacy, and entrepreneurial ability can provide alternative pathways to employment and income generation.
For the programme to achieve its long-term objectives, however, sustained support will be important. Training must be complemented by access to tools, finance, mentorship, markets, and opportunities for continued learning.
Equally, beneficiaries will need to take advantage of the training, attending training sessions regularly, practising the acquired skills and applying the knowledge beyond the classroom.
The commencement of vocational training for the 777 youths, therefore, represents more than the launch of another skills-acquisition programme. It is an investment in human capital and an attempt to close the gap between Nigeria’s large youth population and the practical competencies required by the modern economy.
If effectively implemented and sustained, initiatives such as the IDEAS Project, could help more young Nigerians secure decent livelihoods, establish businesses and contribute meaningfully to national economic development.
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