Professor of Capital Market Studies and President of the Capital Market Academics of Nigeria (CMAN), Uche Uwaleke, has proposed a N774 billion federal intervention programme to establish vocational and digital skills acquisition centres across all 774 local government areas (LGAs) in Nigeria.
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Uwaleke made the proposal during an interview on Arise News Channel, where he argued that the initiative could help bridge the gap between recent macroeconomic improvements and the economic realities faced by millions of Nigerians.
According to him, while the country has recorded progress in key economic indicators following reforms such as fuel subsidy removal, exchange rate unification, improved fiscal discipline and stronger investor confidence, many Nigerians are yet to experience the benefits of those gains.
He noted that poverty, unemployment, declining purchasing power and economic hardship remain major concerns, particularly in rural and semi-urban communities where economic opportunities are limited.
“The challenge before policymakers is no longer simply how to stabilize the economy, but how to reconnect macroeconomic recovery to grassroots welfare improvement, productive employment generation and local economic revitalization,” Uwaleke said.
To address the challenge, he proposed a one-time seed capital grant of N1 billion for each of Nigeria’s 774 LGAs, bringing the total intervention fund to N774 billion.
The proposed funding would be used exclusively for the establishment of Mega Vocational and Digital Skills Acquisition Centres aimed at equipping young Nigerians with practical and employable skills.
Uwaleke said the centres would provide training in areas such as digital literacy, information technology, electrical installation and maintenance, welding and fabrication, fashion and garment production, renewable energy systems, agro-processing, auto mechanics and building technology.
He added that the centres would also support the development of technical and vocational skills tailored to the economic needs of individual communities.
According to the economist, economic activities have become concentrated in a few major urban centres, leaving many local communities with weak economies and growing youth unemployment.
He believes that establishing skills acquisition centres in every LGA would help decentralize economic opportunities and create pathways for self-employment and entrepreneurship.
Uwaleke said the programme could contribute to expanding employable skills among young people, improving digital inclusion, reducing rural-to-urban migration and supporting local enterprise development.
Rather than implementing the initiative through pilot programmes, he recommended a nationwide rollout covering all 774 LGAs simultaneously.
He argued that the economic challenges facing communities across the country are widespread and require a national response rather than a phased approach limited to selected locations.
On funding, Uwaleke suggested that the Federal Government could draw resources from special intervention appropriations, extraordinary revenues, dividend arrangements from national assets and a negotiated share of distributable national revenues.
Beyond funding, he also outlined a governance structure designed to support implementation while avoiding the creation of additional bureaucratic agencies.
Under the framework, each LGA would establish a community-based implementation board comprising traditional rulers, youth representatives, women leaders, professionals and other community development stakeholders.
The boards would oversee local implementation and ensure that projects align with community needs.
State governments and host communities would be expected to provide land for the centres, while local residents would participate in monitoring, maintenance and protection of the facilities.
At the federal level, Uwaleke proposed leveraging existing institutions instead of creating new agencies.
He recommended that the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) provide technical supervision and programme standardization for the centres across the country.
He also proposed that oversight institutions including the Office of the Auditor-General, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) be responsible for ensuring compliance, transparency and accountability.
To further strengthen transparency, Uwaleke suggested the creation of a centralized digital portal that would provide public access to project allocations, procurement records, implementation milestones, audit reports and training outcomes.
According to him, making project information publicly available would help improve accountability and reduce opportunities for misuse of funds.
The proposal comes at a time when skills development, digital inclusion and youth employment have become central themes in discussions around Nigeria’s economic future.
Nigeria continues to face a significant youth unemployment challenge despite efforts to stimulate economic growth and attract investment.
Uwaleke acknowledged concerns that a programme of this scale could face issues such as corruption, elite capture and weak coordination among implementing institutions.
However, he maintained that the proposed framework contains safeguards including milestone-based disbursements, public disclosure requirements, independent audits and community participation mechanisms.
He stressed that the intervention should not be viewed as a welfare programme but as a long-term economic development strategy focused on productive engagement and enterprise creation.
According to him, the goal is to rebuild local economies by equipping people with practical skills that can generate income, support business creation and increase participation in economic activities.
Uwaleke said sustainable national development can only be achieved when economic recovery extends beyond headline indicators and reaches communities across the country.
He argued that empowering Nigerians at the grassroots level through skills acquisition and enterprise development remains critical to ensuring that economic reforms translate into tangible benefits for citizens.
