The Federal Ministry of Education has launched a nationwide Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) program, calling for the registration of vocational centres to enhance skill development and align education with industry needs. The initiative, implemented through the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), invites Skill Training Centres (STCs), Vocational Enterprise Institutions (VEIs), and Mastercraft Persons (MCPs) to register for accreditation, making them eligible for government funding.
The accreditation process sets mandatory requirements to ensure standardization. VEIs and STCs must be registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and adopt National Skills Qualification (NSQ)-based curricula, with a minimum number of qualified instructors and quality assurance personnel. MCPs can register using either a CAC certificate or a National Identification Number (NIN) and must meet similar training standards.
This initiative is part of broader government efforts to address Nigeria’s high youth unemployment rate, where 14.4% of young people aged 15 to 24 are neither in school, employed, nor undergoing training. Programs such as the Three Million Technical Talent (3MTT) initiative and the NEXTGEN RESCO Programme have been introduced to equip young Nigerians with industry-relevant skills. In January 2025, Nigeria also updated its basic education curriculum to include 15 new trades aimed at improving employability.
By strengthening vocational training, the government aims to close the skills gap, enhance youth competitiveness in the job market, and drive economic growth.
