The Federal Government on Thursday restated its strong commitment to large-scale human capital development, describing it as the key driver of Nigeria’s industrial growth, economic transformation and long-term national prosperity. The declaration was made in Abuja during the Industrial Training Fund and Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association Stakeholders’ Dialogue Forum and the 2023/2024 Outstanding Trainees’ Awards Ceremony, where the Minister of State for Finance, Doris Uzoka-Anite, emphasised that Nigeria’s greatest asset is its people.
Speaking at the event, the minister noted that Nigeria’s future depends on empowering its youthful population with practical and industry-ready skills that match the needs of the modern job market. She explained that the government is entering the second phase of economic reforms following President Bola Tinubu’s major policy changes, including the removal of subsidies on petroleum products and adjustments in the foreign exchange market. According to her, these reforms are expected to trigger an industrial boom that will push Nigeria closer to the president’s target of a one trillion-dollar economy.
Uzoka-Anite highlighted the crucial role of industrial and technical skills in this phase of economic recovery. She stated that the training programmes offered by the Industrial Training Fund remain vital to supporting Nigeria’s economic transformation and boosting productivity. In her words, “The true measure of a nation’s wealth lies not beneath the ground but in the minds, hands and hearts of its people. It is the skill, creativity and resilience of citizens that transform natural resources into real prosperity. The ability of a nation to train, equip and empower its people determines not only its productivity but also its capacity to innovate and compete globally to sustain inclusive growth.”
The minister described herself as a strong advocate for technical skills development, noting that the country must invest more in workforce upgrade so Nigeria can maximise new industrial opportunities across sectors such as manufacturing, technology, energy and construction. She explained that as Nigeria moves deeper into the reforms initiated by the current administration, industrial skills will be in high demand, making ITF’s interventions more essential than ever.
Uzoka-Anite praised the collaboration between the Industrial Training Fund and the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association, noting that their Technical Skills Development Project has become a model for how government and the private sector can work together to reduce unemployment, underemployment and the persistent gap between classroom learning and real workplace needs. She described the partnership as a shining example of strategic cooperation that benefits both industries and young Nigerians.
She repeated that in every successful economy, the most valuable resource is human capital. “In every economy, the most valuable asset is not mineral resources but human capital. The true measure of a nation’s wealth lies not beneath the ground but in the minds, hands and hearts of its people,” she said.
The minister, who previously served as the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment before her current role, also used the forum to outline progress recorded under the Skill Up Artisans Programme, a national initiative launched in 2024 to modernise and certify millions of artisans. She revealed that more than 100,000 Nigerian youths have already been enrolled in the programme.
According to her, the beneficiaries are being trained in strategic areas such as construction, ICT, renewable energy, automotive services and manufacturing. She explained that SUPA is helping to transform Nigerian artisans into globally competitive professionals while providing them with opportunities for entrepreneurship and financial literacy. The programme, she added, ensures that participants gain not only employability but also the capacity to become job creators who contribute to President Tinubu’s economic targets through increased productivity and industrial expansion.
Commending the Director General of the Industrial Training Fund, Toyin Afiz, and NECA’s Director General, Adewale-Smatt Oyerinde, the minister’s representative said public-private partnerships remain crucial to the success of Nigeria’s economic reforms. She stated that the Ministry of Finance, working with other key ministries, is prioritising structured investment in human capital, private sector incentives for apprenticeship, funding for technical and vocational education, and entrepreneurship financing.
She noted that government alone cannot solve the employment challenge. “Government alone cannot solve the employment challenge. Every factory that trains an apprentice, every firm that mentors a young Nigerian, and every entrepreneur who invests in skills is helping to build the foundation of a more prosperous nation,” she said.
Uzoka-Anite also acknowledged the support of private-sector leaders and multinational companies that continue to invest in youth training and mentorship programmes. She explained that these initiatives complement government efforts to reduce unemployment and develop a highly skilled workforce that supports national competitiveness.
According to recent data from the National Bureau of Statistics, Nigeria’s unemployment rate stood at 5.2 per cent in the first quarter of 2025, with youths accounting for nearly two-thirds of the figure. Analysts have repeatedly linked the challenge to inadequate technical and vocational education that aligns with industry demand.
In response to this challenge, the ITF–NECA Technical Skills Development Project has been playing an important role. Launched in 2018, the project was designed to equip young Nigerians with hands-on skills required by industries while creating clear pathways to employment and entrepreneurship. Beneficiaries under the initiative receive training, mentorship and certification in fields including welding, ICT, mechatronics and industrial maintenance. Many participants, according to officials, secure immediate jobs or establish their own businesses after completing the programme.
The minister encouraged ITF and NECA to expand their activities to underserved communities to ensure that every part of the country benefits from technical training opportunities. She added that the achievements of both TSDP and SUPA prove that skill-based empowerment is one of the most reliable ways to reduce poverty, tackle joblessness and improve household income.
“For Nigeria, technical and vocational skills are not merely alternatives to formal education; they are pathways to dignity, productivity and national competitiveness,” she stated.
The Industrial Training Fund, created in 1971, remains Nigeria’s leading manpower development institution with a mandate to promote and encourage skills acquisition in commerce and industry. NECA, on its part, serves as the umbrella body for employers in the private sector and plays a major role in job creation, workforce development and labour policy engagement.
The two organisations have jointly trained 60,000 Nigerians through the TSDP initiative since its inception, with thousands getting absorbed into the workforce of partnering industries. Officials said that the collaboration continues to demonstrate how coordinated investment in skills can contribute to economic stability, increased employment and higher productivity.
Earlier in his remarks, the Director General of the ITF, Toyin Afiz-Ogun, emphasised that 60,000 young Nigerians have benefited from the Technical Skills Development Project over the past sixteen years. He described the TSDP as proof of the power of collaboration between government agencies and private sector organisations. According to him, the programme has nurtured creators, problem solvers and nation builders who continue to influence Nigeria’s industrial and economic landscape.
Afiz-Ogun stated that skills are the new currency of national development and explained that a skilled youthful population helps to attract investment, stimulate industries and support sustainable economic growth. On his part, the Director General of NECA said that beneficiaries of the programme were trained across thirty-five trade areas, resulting in upgrades to several federal education institutions.
He added that the Stakeholders’ Dialogue Forum was being held simultaneously across nine centres in the country as part of ongoing efforts to deepen the reach of the initiative. Stakeholders noted that the partnership between ITF and NECA, supported by the government’s SUPA scheme, is fast becoming a model for sustainable job creation, industry readiness and productivity-driven growth.
