The Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry of Education, has announced plans to enroll an additional 150,000 trainees under the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Initiative within the next two to three months. This figure is part of the initial batch of 250,000 participants, with a broader goal to train over one million young Nigerians in the next two years.
The Ministry made this known while responding to a recent publication circulating across media platforms that analyzed skills deficits in Nigeria and Africa. The publication examined the use of foreign technical expertise in large-scale industrial projects as a case study for local capacity challenges.
In a statement, the Federal Ministry of Education said it welcomes the renewed public discussion on technical skills development, capacity building, and workforce readiness. It explained that the issues raised in the report highlight the urgency of the ongoing reforms being implemented by the Federal Government under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, particularly in the area of TVET.
According to the Ministry, “Recognising that sustainable development is driven by skilled human capital, the Federal Ministry of Education has positioned TVET as a national priority in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda.” It further stated that the Ministry launched the TVET Initiative to reposition technical education as a central pillar of Nigeria’s economic transformation.
The Ministry added that through the TVET Initiative, it has reawakened the interest of Nigerian youth in technical and vocational education. “Currently, over 100,000 students are being trained and equipped with industry-relevant skills in over 1,600 technical and vocational training programmes across Federal and State Technical Colleges, Skills Training Centres, and accredited Vocational Enterprise Institutions nationwide,” it said.
It explained that the first batch of 100,000 trainees forms part of the first cohort of 250,000 Nigerians to be fully enrolled in the next two to three months. “We have plans to train over one million young Nigerians within the next two years with industry-relevant skills to meet both local, regional and global demands for technical-based jobs. We are delighted to announce that the TVET Initiative roll-out has been a phenomenal success so far,” the Ministry stated.
The programmes are focused on priority skills aligned with national development goals and current labour market demands. The TVET Initiative aims at producing large-scale skilled workers in fields such as industrial mechanics, electrical installation, welding and fabrication, mechatronics, solar photovoltaic installation, compressed natural gas (CNG) conversion and maintenance, refrigeration and HVAC, and ICT.
It added that all training programmes are designed in collaboration with industry partners to ensure that graduates are not only certified but also employable and job-ready. In line with this, technical institutions across the country are being revitalised through curriculum updates, provision of modern training equipment, development of instructor capacity, and improved quality assurance systems.
FME also confirmed that trained Quality Assurance Assessors and Internal Quality Assurance Managers have been deployed nationwide to ensure that training outcomes meet both national occupational standards and international benchmarks.
To support trainees’ access and completion, the Federal Government approved structured stipends for participants. “The first tranche of payments has been released to training centres, alongside stipend disbursements to beneficiaries, reinforcing accountability and programme sustainability,” it noted.
The Ministry further revealed that it is leveraging international partnerships to support curriculum modernisation, instructor training, and institutional development. It clarified that these collaborations are focused on long-term capacity building and knowledge transfer, not the replacement of Nigerian labour.
“The TVET Initiative constitutes Nigeria’s structured and sustainable response to this challenge,” the statement read. “The Federal Ministry of Education remains committed to building a skills-driven economy where Nigerians are equipped to operate, maintain, and expand the nation’s industries, ensuring that they are active participants and leaders in Nigeria’s development.”
Applicants whose TVET dashboard is showing ‘Pending’ should expect to be ‘Approved’ from February 2026, when FME will approve the new trainees.
