The Federal Government of Nigeria has signed a strategic partnership with Polaris Capital Limited to train, certify, and connect 100,000 construction artisans to job opportunities nationwide.
The agreement, sealed through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on September 2, 2025, officially launches the National Artisan Skills Acquisition Programme (NASAP)—a landmark initiative aimed at bridging Nigeria’s construction skills gap, modernizing the housing sector, and creating sustainable jobs.
According to a statement from the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, the three-year programme will be funded through federal allocations, private sector investments, and donor contributions. It will also deploy a digital booking and verification platform to connect artisans directly to employers while ensuring accountability and revenue generation for sustainability.
Speaking at the signing, Dr. Shuaib Belgore, Permanent Secretary of the Housing and Urban Development Ministry, emphasized that the initiative reflects the government’s commitment to inclusivity and workforce modernization:
“NASAP is a nationwide intervention programme designed to train, certify, and digitally connect 100,000 artisans in priority construction trades to job opportunities across Nigeria. It will strengthen technical capacity, create sustainable employment for young people and artisans, and promote inclusivity by engaging women, youth, and persons with disabilities.”
Kelvin Vihishima, CEO of Polaris Capital Limited, described the collaboration as critical for reforming Nigeria’s housing sector and addressing unemployment.
“This partnership will help curb quackery in construction by providing structured training and certification. With skilled manpower available nationwide, we can transform housing delivery and drive down unemployment levels.”
Programme Details and Roadmap
NASAP will roll out in three phases:
2025: A pilot training of 3,000 artisans across three states, covering 10 high-demand trades such as bricklaying, plumbing, electrical works, carpentry, painting, welding, tiling, POP and screeding, upholstery, and air conditioning/refrigeration.
2026: Nationwide scale-up to reach thousands of artisans across all states.
2027: Establishment of Regional Centres of Excellence to sustain training and certification.
The initiative is designed to professionalize artisanship, raise construction standards, and ensure Nigerian youth and low-income earners are equipped with market-ready technical skills.
Why It Matters for Africa’s MSMEs
For micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in construction, real estate, and allied industries, NASAP provides a pipeline of certified artisans who can deliver quality work, reduce risks of poor workmanship, and improve competitiveness. With the construction sector serving as a key employer across Africa, this model could provide a blueprint for artisan workforce development in other countries.
The MoU was officially endorsed by Dr. Belgore on behalf of the Ministry and Mr. Vihishima on behalf of Polaris Capital Limited, signaling the start of what stakeholders expect to be a transformative programme for Nigeria’s labour market and housing sector.
