The Federal Government on Wednesday reaffirmed its commitment to equipping young Nigerians with practical skills to boost employability, reduce joblessness, and drive industrial growth across the country. The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, stated this in Abuja at the Industrial Training Fund (ITF)/Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) Stakeholders’ Dialogue Forum and the 2023/2024 Outstanding Trainees’ Awards Ceremony.
Dr. Oduwole described the Technical Skills Development Project (TSDP) as a key platform for building a productive and globally competitive workforce. She said the programme had evolved into a national benchmark for skills development and industrial competitiveness through strong government–private sector collaboration.
According to her, the initiative was established following a 2009 skill-gap survey that revealed manpower shortages across six key trade areas.
“Since then, the project has grown from six pilot trades to over 30, producing more than 60,000 employable Nigerian youths,” she said.
Represented by Mr. Eyitayo Oshinowo, Director of Industrial Inspectorate, Dr. Oduwole said the programme had upgraded 10 technical colleges and built six training workshops across the country. She added that more than 84 partner organisations now support the TSDP and that about 90 per cent of graduates are either gainfully employed or running their own businesses.
“The dialogue is designed to ensure that skill development remains aligned with industry needs and the government’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises technical competence, digital transformation, and innovation,” she said.
The Minister of Labour and Employment, Alhaji Muhammad Dingyadi, described the TSDP as a model of how public–private partnerships can transform human capital development in Nigeria. Speaking through Mr. Tiza Chaakaa, Director of Skills Development and Certification, he urged stakeholders to strengthen collaboration and align training with global standards.
Similarly, the Director-General of the ITF, Dr. Afiz Ogun, said the project was tackling youth restiveness by providing skills, knowledge, and tools that empower young Nigerians to become self-reliant and employers of labour.
“We track our trainees after graduation to measure their community impact, and the results have been very encouraging,” he said.
Also speaking, the Director-General of NECA, Mr. Adewale-Smatt Oyerinde, said the partnership, which began 16 years ago, had expanded from six to more than 80 collaborating organisations.
In her remarks, the Minister of State for Finance, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite, pledged continued support for ITF and NECA to promote inclusive growth through vocational and technical training. The Minister of State for Industry, Sen. John Owan-Ewah, also commended both institutions for equipping young Nigerians with practical skills.
At the event, 37 outstanding trainees from the 2023 and 2024 training sessions were honoured for excellence and innovation in their various skill areas.
