The Federal Government has disclosed plans to provide soft loans from the Bank of Industry (BOI) to about 26,000 trainees under the Innovation Development and Effectiveness in the Acquisition of Skills (IDEAS) TVET initiative, as part of efforts to reduce youth unemployment and promote self-reliance.
The IDEAS Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) project is a World Bank-supported initiative aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training system and equipping young people with practical, employable skills.
The National Project Coordinator for the IDEAS project, Mrs Blessing Ogwu, made this known on Friday during a visit to Wavecrest College in Surulere, Lagos. Officials of the Federal Ministry of Education and representatives of the World Bank interacted with trainees undergoing Technical and Vocational Education and Training at the institution.
Ogwu explained that the ministry is seeking partnership with the BOI to secure soft loans for trainees after graduation, enabling them to scale up their businesses.
“At the end of the programme, the federal ministry intends to give the trainees starter packs. We are training them not to roam the streets in search of government jobs but to become self-reliant,” she said.
“The ministry is also liaising with the Bank of Industry to get them soft loans with which they can do something meaningful.”
She urged the trainees to take the programme seriously, describing it as a major investment by the government.
“If the Federal Government can take loans to train Nigerians, then the trainees must take it seriously because it will earn them a living. The essence is to reduce youth unemployment,” she said.
Ogwu revealed that the current batch comprises about 26,000 trainees. She added that a previous cohort had 14,000 participants, while the pilot phase trained 1,050 individuals.
According to her, the six-month programme for the current batch began on January 12, 2026, while Batch One commenced on October 12. She disclosed that another cohort of about 30,000 trainees is expected by the end of March.
She stressed that the IDEAS project of the Federal Ministry of Education was specifically designed to reduce unemployment by equipping youths with practical skills that can translate into income-generating opportunities.
According to her, the Federal Government is prioritising skills acquisition as a strategy to tackle unemployment and take young people off the streets.
She again urged beneficiaries to remain committed to their training to ensure they can earn a living independently at the end of the programme.
“The Federal Government has budgeted substantial funds for TVET. There is also additional support from the World Bank to promote TVET education in Nigeria,” she added.
Ogwu explained that training service providers under the project engage external tutors to support trainees as the programme progresses, ensuring that participants receive both technical and practical exposure.
“We have over 400 centres currently running under this project. In addition to that, the Ministry of Education is also running TVET centres, bringing the total to over 3,000 centres nationwide. Many Nigerian youths have been writing and appreciating the Minister of Education for initiating this programme,” she said.
Also speaking during the visit, Scherezad Latif, Practice Manager for Education for West and Central Africa at the World Bank, described Nigeria as one of the institution’s largest education programmes.
She said the visit was aimed at reviewing the minister’s TVET initiative as well as the World Bank-supported IDEAS project.
“We are proud to be part of the government’s programme and to see the results achieved, particularly here at Wavecrest College,” she said.
Latif described Wavecrest College as a model in hospitality training and expressed satisfaction with the level of motivation and clarity of purpose shown by the trainees.
“With what we have seen, we are impressed with the students’ motivation and their clear vision of why they are here and what they hope to achieve,” she said.
The Deputy Provost of Wavecrest College and NSQ Project Coordinator for the institution said the goal of the training is to equip participants with employable skills in the hospitality industry while linking them to job opportunities.
“We are combining training with employment prospects. By the end of the programme, participants would have acquired the necessary technical and hospitality skills to secure jobs,” she said.
She explained that the training modules include catering and hospitality management, food production, food service, front office and customer service, as well as housekeeping operations.
“The idea is to prepare them to work in any hospitality outlet. They can also choose to specialise in any of the modules,” she added.
She encouraged trainees to maximise the mentorship sessions and life skills classes embedded in the National Skills Qualification framework.
“There is a combination of theory and practical sessions. We are nurturing their dreams using the curriculum provided by the government,” she said, noting that the IDEAS project is being implemented in collaboration with the World Bank.
One of the trainees, Ihedioha Ifeanyichukwu of the NSQ 2026 Batch A, said he applied for the programme after seeing flyers online and was selected following a physical screening.
“I see myself working in a five-star hotel at a management level. I also see myself owning my own establishment and building it to where I want it to be,” he said.
He added that the training had broadened his understanding of the hospitality industry and given him clearer direction.
“The Federal Government has done its part; it is left for me to work hard. We have a three-month internship, and I am working towards being retained wherever I am posted and saving from my allowance to start my own business,” he said.
