The Federal Government has commenced technical and vocational skills training for 777 young Nigerians in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), under a nationwide programme targeting 80,000 youths.
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The training is being implemented by the Federal Ministry of Education through the Innovation, Development and Effectiveness in the Acquisition of Skills (IDEAS) Project, with funding support from the World Bank.
The third cohort was flagged off in Abuja on Friday, with officials saying the initiative is designed to equip participants with practical competencies needed for employment and entrepreneurship.
The 1st Deputy President of the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) and Chairman of its Business Entrepreneurship Skills and Technology (BEST) Centre, Prof. Adesoji Adesugba, said the programme was addressing the gap between Nigeria’s youthful population and the skills demanded by employers.
“Nigeria’s challenge is not a shortage of young people. It is a shortage of young people equipped with skills the market is willing to pay for. Our economy does not need more certificates. It needs more competencies,” he said.
Adesugba said the training was deliberately practical, adding that participants would be expected to demonstrate their abilities through actual work rather than rely solely on certificates.
He urged the beneficiaries to take the opportunity seriously, noting that course fees, equipment, facilities and instruction had been provided under the programme. He said the skills acquired would give trainees a foundation to secure jobs or establish businesses.
The Deputy Director-General of ACCI and head of the BEST Centre, Dr Tinuke Temitope, said the 777 trainees in the FCT were part of approximately 80,000 young people undergoing training nationwide under the IDEAS Project.
According to her, the FCT beneficiaries were selected through seven accredited Training Service Providers and are receiving instruction in fields such as digital and creative media, beauty and cosmetology, construction and building trades, agriculture and agribusiness.
Temitope said the BEST Centre was training 200 beneficiaries in digital media production. She disclosed that the centre received more than 800 applications after an open recruitment exercise, but only 200 slots were approved for it under the project.
She said applicants were assessed based on their previous experience, qualifications and capacity, while candidates who met the initial requirements were invited for oral interviews.
Temitope explained that the competency-based model was intended to ensure trainees could put their skills to practical use and earn a living after completing the programme.
She said ACCI would continue supporting graduates through its platforms, including opportunities to join the chamber and develop their businesses.
The seven accredited Training Service Providers participating in the FCT cohort are the ACCI Business Entrepreneurship Skills and Technology (BEST) Centre; Onidiri Home of Beauty; Gemological Institute of Nigeria; iLearn Learning Spaces; Germnig Consultants Limited; Dari Investments Limited; and Binley and Bramble, in partnership with School Hunters.
The IDEAS Project is aimed at expanding access to quality technical and vocational education and training (TVET) across Nigeria.
Under the current cohort, participants are receiving structured, competency-based instruction aligned with National Skills Qualification (NSQ) standards. The organisers said trainees are expected to proceed to industry internships and receive employment support after their training.
The announcement concerns training for selected beneficiaries and does not provide details of a currently open application process. The FCT cohort includes 777 trainees drawn from seven accredited providers. The BEST Centre’s 200 places were filled through an earlier open recruitment exercise, which attracted more than 800 applications.
Interested young Nigerians should monitor announcements from the Federal Ministry of Education, the IDEAS Project and accredited Training Service Providers for future details. No new application link or deadline was provided.
