The federal government has announced plans to train more than 30,000 youths under the second cohort of the Innovation Development and Effectiveness in the Acquisition of Skills (IDEAS) and the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) initiative.
Speaking during a workshop on the Nigerian Youth Employment through Skills Acquisition Funds TVET initiative, the National Project Coordinator of the IDEAS Project, Blessing Ogwu, said the training is aimed at equipping participants with high-quality, industry-aligned skills that meet labour market demands.
She explained that the second phase of the project, which is set to begin on August 25, will cover 36 skill areas.
The programme is being implemented by the Federal Ministry of Education with funding support from the World Bank-backed IDEAS project, which was designed to strengthen Nigeria’s TVET system.
According to her, the initiative is structured to leverage private sector involvement to improve training quality and ensure better alignment with the job market. Ogwu revealed that $130 million out of the $200 million World Bank loan secured for the project has already been made available to fund its activities.
The IDEAS project, which was first launched in 2022, seeks to address critical areas in the skills development system and improve technical education across the country.
Ogwu said, “The TVET initiative is a strategic intervention of the present government aimed at addressing the skills gap and promoting employability among Nigerian youth. By partnering with reputable Training Service Providers (TSPs), we aim to deliver high-quality Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) that aligns with industry needs and labour market demands.”
“Over the course of this training, we will work together to equip our youth with the skills and competencies required to succeed in the workforce. I am confident that this initiative will contribute significantly to our nation’s economic growth and development.”
IDEAS Project Technical Assistant, Prof Ndem Ndiyo, noted that the programme will play a major role in developing the skills of Nigerian youths. He explained that Training Service Providers will each train between 100 and 300 youths, depending on their capacity.
According to him, 97 TSPs have been engaged in the second cohort to deliver the training across different states. He stressed that the present administration is deeply concerned about youth unemployment and is committed to implementing measures that can reduce the problem.
The World Bank Co-Task Team Leader of the IDEAS Project, Dr Mistura Rufai, also highlighted the scope of the training and the importance of certification. She said that youths across the country would be trained for six months in different skill acquisition programs under the second phase beginning August 25.
Rufai explained that the IDEAS project was conceived to bridge the gap in skills acquisition and ensure that young people not only undergo training but also receive certification under the National Skills Certification Framework.
She said, “We saw a large gap in the skills ecosystem. We have a lot of teeming youths who are graduating from school, and a gap in employment. The goal is not just to train them but to see them get certification under the national skills qualification framework and also to get funding.”