FG To Empower 960,000 Youths With Life-Changing Technical Skills Under TVET Scheme

According to Ireporter Online, the Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to youth empowerment with plans to train no fewer than 960,000 young Nigerians in technical and vocational skills under the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) initiative.

The programme, anchored by the Federal Ministry of Education, is part of the administration’s strategy to equip Nigerian youths with employable and entrepreneurial skills that align with global standards. The training will commence after a verification exercise designed to ensure transparency and prevent fraud.

Minister of State for Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, disclosed this during an inspection visit to some accredited TVET centres in Abuja, including AFS Vocational Hub in Garki and Golden Finger Farms and Ranches Limited along the Kubwa-Zuba Expressway, Dei-Dei. He described the initiative as a testament to the government’s political will and dedication to youth development.

Alausa explained that over 250,000 participants are already undergoing practical training across 2,600 centres nationwide as part of the programme’s first phase. He emphasized that every trainee was verified through their National Identification Number (NIN) and Bank Verification Number (BVN) to ensure accountability, adding that all payments are made directly to accredited training and vocational institutes.

The minister further revealed that 28 priority skill areas were selected from 86 trades identified across the country, including fashion design, livestock production, GSM repair, plumbing, tiling, and modern farming. The curriculum, according to him, is structured to be 90 percent practical and 10 percent theoretical.

He noted that within ten days of opening the training portal, nearly 1.3 million applications were received, out of which 960,000 were verified and approved for the initiative. Alausa highlighted that the programme aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision to empower the nation’s youth with the tools necessary to build sustainable livelihoods.

“This President believes in the youth as the heartbeat of the nation. His administration is determined to equip them with the right skills to succeed and fulfill their potential,” Alausa said.

He added that successful trainees would not only gain technical skills but also receive starter packs and grants to kick-start their businesses, transforming them from job seekers to employers of labour.

According to the minister, the duration of training will vary depending on the programme—six months for skill centres, one year for vocational enterprise institutes, and up to three years for technical colleges. The TVET initiative, he confirmed, is active across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.