The Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta has introduced a ₦113 million TVET Facilities Upgrade Grant designed to modernize and expand 14 technical and vocational training centres across the Niger Delta region. The initiative underscores a broader push to strengthen the region’s skills pipeline, support youth employment, and improve the quality of workforce development systems that feed into small business growth.
The investment is focused on improving training infrastructure, upgrading equipment, and building sustainability models for TVET institutions offering programmes in ICT, building construction, agriculture, and services. Beneficiary centres are located in Aba, Warri, Port Harcourt, Uyo, and Asaba, areas considered industrial and commercial hubs where thousands of young people seek technical skills that often lead to self-employment, apprenticeship placement, and MSME participation.
During the launch event, the foundation’s leadership stressed that the project is not only about equipment acquisition but about long-term socio-economic transformation. “We are not just upgrading equipment; we are upgrading futures. This investment ensures that TVET centres can train more young people with skills demanded by today’s industries. When we strengthen institutions that train youth, we strengthen livelihoods, businesses, and the future of the Niger Delta,” the organisation stated. The message reflects a strong focus on improving youth readiness for work as well as supporting enterprise development in a region where many young people rely on skills-based ventures for income.
Training tutors who stand to benefit from the funding expressed confidence in the programme, noting that improved facilities will translate to better learning outcomes. A representative from one of the Port Harcourt centres described the support as a step closer to accessible, dignified employment for young people. “This grant will allow us to modernize our workshops and increase the number of youths we train annually. For many young people, skills training is access to dignity, income, and independence. PIND’s support brings us closer to that reality,” the representative said, highlighting the implications for youth-owned micro-businesses and vocational startups.
The upgrade programme, which will run from September 2025 to February 2026, targets more than 10,000 unemployed young people who are expected to gain market-relevant skills tied to job placements, apprenticeships, and enterprise creation. With more learners able to gain technical competencies, small businesses in construction, fabrication, ICT support services and agro-processing could have access to a more skilled workforce, while new micro-firms may emerge from graduates who choose entrepreneurship.
At the launch, a strategy workshop brought together government agencies, private sector partners, and development organisations to discuss pathways for building a more resilient and commercially viable TVET ecosystem. The conversations focused on sustainability, industry alignment, and how training hubs can deepen partnerships that connect youth to funding, mentorship, and business opportunities.
With this intervention, the foundation is positioning skill development as a catalyst for youth employment, technological innovation, and inclusive growth across the Niger Delta. Strengthened TVET centres are expected to boost productivity, reduce skill gaps for MSMEs, and drive economic participation in communities where vocational training often shapes the future of work and micro-enterprise creation.
