The federal government has inaugurated the National Working Committee of WorldSkills Nigeria to promote skills development, vocational excellence, and competitiveness among Nigerian youths, with a focus on preparing Technical and Vocational Education and Training, TVET, trainees for assessment and competition at global standards.
Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Alausa, who inaugurated the committee in Abuja, said the initiative is designed to ensure that skills acquired in Nigeria align with international best practices and the objectives of WorldSkills Nigeria, while repositioning skills training as a viable pathway for young people.
According to the minister, the inauguration marks a critical step toward building a globally competitive workforce and transforming the future of TVET in Nigeria. He described the move as “a bold national commitment to skills excellence, significance, and readiness to benchmark Nigeria’s skills development system against the highest global standards.”
Dr Alausa said the platform would equip young Nigerians with world-class competencies. “With the inauguration of WorldSkills Nigeria, we are opening a new chapter defined by opportunity, competitiveness, and national pride. Our youth will be inspired to develop a passion for skills and motivated to choose high-quality skills as a first-choice educational pathway,” he said.
He added that industries would benefit from a more agile workforce, while the country would gain through increased productivity. The minister commended stakeholders for laying what he described as a solid foundation for a stronger Nigeria.
“On behalf of the Federal Ministry of Education, I reaffirm our commitment to supporting WorldSkills Nigeria as a national flagship for skills development and youth empowerment,” Dr Alausa stated.
Nigeria’s journey into WorldSkills
The minister recalled that Nigeria’s admission into WorldSkills International in August 2024 was the culmination of over a decade of sustained effort and collaboration.
He explained that since 2013, Nigeria had pursued membership by engaging global partners, strengthening national structures, and aligning its skills ecosystem with international standards.
“These achievements reflect the collective efforts of the National Board for Technical Education, federal and state TVET agencies, sector skills councils, industry partners, and other stakeholders,” he said, adding that WorldSkills Nigeria represents more than membership.
WorldSkills and TVET integration
Speaking at the event, a representative of WorldSkills Nigeria, Mrs Yemisi Akirinade, said WorldSkills International sets standards for TVET benchmarking, teacher capacity building, research, and skills development.
She explained that TVET differs from purely academic education because of its strong multi-sectoral nature, requiring close collaboration between education providers and industry.
“WorldSkills sits at the intersection of education, the economy, and industry. Countries with weak linkages in this nexus often struggle economically. WorldSkills Nigeria is designed to strengthen these linkages and drive a skills-based economy,” she said.
Mrs Akirinade noted that although TVET implementation comes with challenges, it remains a powerful tool for national development.
NBTE and committee assurances
Executive Secretary of the NBTE and Vice Chairman of the committee, Professor Idris Bugaje, said members were drawn from the core of Nigeria’s skills ecosystem, including academia, industry, training institutions, and consultants.
He acknowledged Mrs Akirinade for her role in Nigeria’s decade-long journey to gaining WorldSkills membership. “It was an audacious journey that lasted more than ten years. At the time Nigeria was admitted into WorldSkills International in November 2024, NBTE did not even have the €4,000 membership fee. Mrs Akirinade paid it, and we reimbursed her later,” he disclosed.
In his acceptance speech on behalf of the committee, Engineer S. M. Yusufu assured that members would work diligently to meet expectations and called for increased visibility for WorldSkills Nigeria.
“We are grateful for this opportunity and propose a national launch of WorldSkills Nigeria,” he said.
The committee is chaired by the Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Ahmad, with the Executive Secretary of the NBTE, Professor Idris Bugaje, serving as Vice Chairman.
Other members include representatives of the Dangote Foundation, WorldSkills Nigeria, the Industrial Training Fund, ITF, and Dr Ahmadu Ali Usman representing the Committee of Heads of Technical Colleges, COHTEC.
What is WorldSkills Nigeria
WorldSkills Nigeria is an affiliate of WorldSkills International and serves as a platform to reposition skills development and Technical and Vocational Education and Training, TVET, as drivers of industrialisation, economic growth, and competitiveness in Nigeria.
Read Also: MTN Foundation launches Phase 7 ICT training for 2,000 SMEs
