The Federal Government, in partnership with Dangote Industries, has planned a one-month “train-the-trainer” programme aimed at equipping selected candidates with practical expertise in high-demand technical skill areas, in a move to strengthen Nigeria’s skilled workforce and drive industrial growth.
Nigeria Startup News reports that the initiative, which will target 100 candidates, is designed to build a pool of certified trainers across key sectors, including industrial mechanics, industrial electronics, instrumentation, welding and fabrication, and heavy-duty earth-moving equipment operations. These trainers are expected to transfer knowledge and hands-on skills to a wider population, creating a multiplier effect across industries.
The programme formed part of discussions at the 8th meeting of the National Council on Skills (NCS), chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima at the Presidential Villa, where stakeholders from federal ministries, state governments, and the private sector aligned on strategies to deepen technical capacity in the country.
Speaking at the meeting, Shettima emphasised the broader vision behind such collaborations, stating, “Our goal is to ensure that Made in Nigeria is synonymous with world-class.” He noted that strengthening technical expertise through targeted programmes like the train-the-trainer initiative is central to achieving this ambition.
The Vice President also stressed the importance of harnessing the ingenuity of Nigerians, describing the country’s workforce as naturally inventive and resilient. He urged stakeholders to channel this energy into structured systems that can support industrialisation and global competitiveness.
The collaboration underscores the growing role of private sector participation in workforce development, with Dangote Industries taking a lead in designing practical training interventions aligned with industry needs. The council commended the proposal and requested periodic updates on its implementation, signalling strong institutional backing.
Shettima further highlighted the role of key agencies such as the National Board for Technical Education and the Industrial Training Fund, describing them as “two gears of a single engine” driving human capital development under the administration’s agenda.
He also linked the programme to Nigeria’s preparation for global platforms such as the WorldSkills Competition, noting that building a highly skilled workforce goes beyond participation in international events and is critical to long-term economic relevance.
“As we leave this chamber, remember who we serve. We owe them jobs. We owe them hope. We owe them a future where their skills are their currency,” the Vice President said, reinforcing the urgency of equipping Nigerians with practical, income-generating abilities.
