The Federal Government of Nigeria, through the National Mass Education Commission (NMEC), in collaboration with the Katsina State Agency for Mass Education, has launched a vocational training and empowerment initiative for out-of-school youths and adults across 20 local government areas of Katsina State.

The initiative is aimed at modernising traditional skills and providing tools for self-reliance. Beneficiaries, men and women aged 15 and above, will receive practical training in trades alongside start-up kits to establish small-scale businesses. The programme is positioned as part of wider efforts to reduce unemployment and enhance economic empowerment in the region.

On Wednesday, 17 September 2025, a joint delegation of federal and state officials led by Hajiya Bilkisu Muhammad Kaikai, Executive Director of the Katsina State Agency for Mass Education, carried out an inspection tour known as the Data Capture Exercise. The exercise began in Katsina metropolis and extended to designated training centres.

Speaking during the monitoring visit, Hajiya Kaikai explained that the initial federal government allocation only covered three local government areas. She said, “After assessing the scale of need across Katsina’s 34 LGAs, we sought and obtained the approval of Governor Dikko Umar Radda to expand the programme to 17 more LGAs.”

According to her, the expansion now ensures that out-of-school youths and adults in communities across the state’s three senatorial districts will participate. She described the development as a reflection of the state government’s commitment to inclusivity and wider access.

“The empowerment scheme is not only a step toward reducing unemployment but also a strategic investment in skills development and poverty alleviation,” she added.

The initiative is expected to create new opportunities in vocational training, skill acquisition, and small business growth, contributing to long-term economic sustainability in Katsina State.

Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) has been described as a major catalyst for equipping young people with the right skills, creating sustainable pathways for self-employment, and driving socio-economic development. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) continues to support programmes that ensure equal access for girls, boys, women, and men to affordable and quality technical, vocational, and tertiary education, including university learning.

Speaking during a Capacity-Building Workshop for TVET stakeholders held in Kano, the Regional Coordinator of the Better Education for Africa’s Rise (BEAR) III Programme, Mr Manish Josh, said the initiative is focused on strengthening TVET in sub-Saharan African countries. According to him, the goal is to improve youth employment opportunities and enhance national economies.

Mr Josh explained that the objectives of the capacity-building workshop include strengthening the strategic planning capacities of TVET managers, leaders, and decision-makers. He added that the programme also seeks to provide the tools needed to align TVET programmes with labour market needs. “The programme is designed to support TVET centres in developing and refining institutional strategic plans that promote both quality and relevance in education and training,” he said.

Director of Technology and Science Education, Dr Olodo, represented by Deputy Director Dr Stella Uhuegbu, described the workshop as a strategic intervention to empower key stakeholders. She said, “This initiative equips TVET stakeholders with the skills required to effectively implement the BEAR III project and advance the broader national TVET reform agenda.”

She further noted that the ongoing TVET reform is already making an impact, with over one million Nigerians enrolled for Masters 6 and 12 programmes. She explained that verification of learners is expected to be completed soon to allow the commencement of training. According to her, more than 15,000 students will also be resuming across Federal Technical Colleges.

Dr Uhuegbu added that the 10-week-long online training had expanded the knowledge and practical skills of participants, pointing out that the workshop would contribute to producing a workforce that is competent and globally competitive.

In his remarks, the Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), Professor Idris Bugaje, represented by his Technical Adviser, Dr Babangida Baba, said that NBTE has been leading efforts to digitise the Nigerian Skills Qualification Framework and strengthen quality assurance across the country’s polytechnics. He revealed that more than 129 accredited TVET centres across the country have already been digitised to meet global standards.

The two-day workshop, organised in collaboration with UNESCO-UNEVOC, brought together participants from federal colleges of agriculture and other stakeholders in science and technology education.

Airtel Africa Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Airtel Africa plc, on Tuesday unveiled its plan to directly improve the lives of 10 million people across the continent by 2030. The ambitious strategy will be implemented through four main pillars: Financial Empowerment, Education, Environmental Protection and Digital Inclusion, grouped under the FEED framework.

Speaking during the launch, Chairman of the Airtel Africa Foundation, Dr Segun Ogunsanya, said the organisation’s mission goes beyond donations, aiming instead to create sustainable opportunities for growth.

“Our 2030 vision is a transformed Africa where over 10 million lives are directly improved through our interventions. We are not just donating resources, we are building a pipeline of talent and fostering innovation to ensure the global digital revolution leaves no African behind.

“This is a strategic, measurable commitment to unlocking the continent’s demographic dividend,” Ogunsanya stated.

The Foundation explained that its programmes are designed to build a cycle of empowerment. Among these is the Connecting Schools initiative, which provides free internet connectivity and devices to learners. Another major project is the Airtel Africa Fellowship, which offers full undergraduate scholarships in technology and STEM fields, along with mentorship and internship opportunities to prepare young Africans for the future of work.

Airtel Africa Foundation pointed to its partnership with UNICEF as a clear example of its impact. Through this collaboration, more than 1,800 schools have been connected, over one million students have benefitted, and more than 17,000 teachers have been trained in digital education. These achievements span across Airtel’s 14 markets of operation.

The Foundation also plans to expand its Employee Volunteer Programme, which mobilises the skills of Airtel staff to directly support community development. For the 2025/26 financial year, the Foundation has set specific growth targets, ensuring that its initiatives reach all operating countries, including Nigeria, Zambia, Malawi, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Airtel Africa’s Chief Executive Officer, Sunil Taldar, emphasised the company’s commitment to social impact, noting that the Foundation was created as a vehicle for transformation. “We cannot thrive in a place that is not thriving. This understanding is the very reason the Airtel Africa Foundation was born. It is our vehicle to catalyse transformation, by systematically investing in the pillars that underpin a resilient and dynamic society.

“We have remained dedicated to transforming lives both as a business imperative as well as our overarching philosophy. For us, helping to connect the unconnected, banking the unbanked and enabling businesses and economies to thrive are the three most significant objectives of our business,” Taldar said.

Federal Government has announced that its ongoing reforms in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) have achieved major milestones, with over one million Nigerians enrolled in Masters 6 and 12 programmes. The initiative is being carried out in collaboration with UNESCO and supported by the Government of the Republic of Korea.

The programme is aimed at strengthening the capacity of TVET managers, leaders, and decision-makers so that technical education can respond more effectively to the demands of the labour market.

This was disclosed by Dr Muyibat Olodo, Director of Technology and Science Education at the Federal Ministry of Education, during a capacity-building workshop for TVET stakeholders in Kano under the Better Education for Africa’s Rise (BEAR) III Project. Dr Olodo was represented by Mrs Stella Uhuegbu, Deputy Director in the ministry.

Olodo explained that verification of learners was ongoing, while more than 15,000 students were expected to resume this weekend at Federal Technical Colleges across the country. She said the reforms were part of the government’s wider plan to revitalise TVET, equip young Nigerians with employable skills, and ensure that training programmes align with labour market requirements.

According to her, “the workshop is not just another training, but a strategic intervention to equip key stakeholders with the skills necessary to effectively implement the BEAR III Project and advance Nigeria’s TVET reform agenda.”

She added that the reforms had already produced encouraging results, with more than one million Nigerians participating in Masters 6 and 12 programmes. She told participants, “The 10-week online training you have completed has broadened your horizon, and the practical skills you will gain from this in-person workshop will help produce a workforce that is not only competent but also globally competitive.”

Olodo urged participants to remain committed and actively engaged, noting that their contributions would help build a robust and globally relevant TVET system for Nigeria. She also commended UNESCO and the Republic of Korea for their support, describing the BEAR III Project as a strategic intervention to strengthen capacity in the TVET sector.

UNESCO’s Representative to Nigeria and Head of Abuja Office, Mr Mendy Albert, also spoke at the workshop. He explained that the initiative was designed to boost the strategic planning capacities of TVET managers, leaders, and decision-makers in Nigeria.

Albert, who was represented by BEAR III Regional Co-ordinator, Mr Manish Josh, emphasised that TVET remains a national priority in Nigeria because of its role in equipping young people with employable skills and creating sustainable pathways for job creation and self-employment.

“The objectives of this programme include strengthening strategic planning, aligning TVET programmes with labour market needs, and supporting institutions to develop and refine plans that promote quality and relevance in training,” Albert said.

He called on participants drawn from federal and state education agencies, technical institutions, and the private sector to make the most of the opportunity and share the knowledge with their colleagues and institutions.