Over 700 young Nigerians have been equipped with technical skills under the Ministry of Steel Development’s inaugural Skill Acquisition and Empowerment Boot Camp, which concluded this weekend at the Metallurgical Training Institute in Onitsha, Anambra State. The program, spearheaded by the Honourable Minister of Steel Development, is part of efforts to rejuvenate Nigeria’s metals sector and drive youth entrepreneurship.
The boot camp offered intensive, hands-on training in welding, fabrication, metallurgy, instrumentation, and control systems. According to the Minister, the goal is to close the skills gap in the industry and shift the focus from academic qualifications to practical expertise that enables job creation.
He noted that the overwhelming response—over 225,000 applications for just 700 slots—reveals the urgent demand for technical empowerment among Nigerian youth. The initiative, the Minister said, aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope Agenda” and the broader vision of building a $1 trillion economy by 2030 through youth-driven industrial growth.
Participants, drawn from all 36 states and the FCT, also received mentorship and exposure to real-world industrial challenges. Starter packs and certificates were distributed at the closing ceremony, which the Minister described as “the beginning of a journey into productivity and national impact.”
The Governor of Anambra State, represented by the Commissioner for Industry, praised the program for complementing state efforts in industrial development. He highlighted the availability of grants and credit facilities to support the graduates.
The Senate Committee on Steel Development, through a representative, urged that the boot camp be institutionalized as an annual program. The committee’s chairman pledged to push for dedicated federal funding and legislative support to sustain the initiative.
The Ministry’s Permanent Secretary described the event not just as a graduation but as a launchpad for emerging entrepreneurs, affirming the ministry’s commitment to long-term engagement with the trainees.
The boot camp marks a new phase in Nigeria’s industrial development, aiming to create a pool of skilled, patriotic youth ready to transform the nation’s steel and metals industry from within.
