The Nigerian Government, through the Federal Ministry of Education\u2019s Innovation Development and Effectiveness in the Acquisition of Skills \u2013 Technical and Vocational Education and Training (IDEAS-TVET) Initiative, has trained about 80,000 Nigerians in various technical and vocational skills as the third cohort of the programme expands across states.\n<\/p>\n
The National Project Coordinator of IDEAS-TVET, Mrs Blessing Ogwu, disclosed this during the flag-off of training for 900 youths in Oyo State under Cohort 3 of the programme.\n<\/p>\n
The Oyo training, implemented in collaboration with six Training Service Providers (TSPs), is part of a wider rollout of the World Bank-supported initiative aimed at equipping young Nigerians with practical, industry-relevant skills for employment, entrepreneurship and self-reliance.)\n<\/p>\n
According to Ogwu, the initiative has taken skills development directly to about 80,000 Nigerians through Training Service Providers across the country.\n<\/p>\n
She said beneficiaries had been trained in occupational areas including fashion design, information and communication technology (ICT), agriculture, hospitality, construction, electrical installation, automotive-related trades, welding and fabrication, phone repairs, computer maintenance, plumbing and solar installation.<\/p>\n
The programme has also invested in strengthening the technical and vocational education system, including the renovation and equipping of workshops across technical colleges and the upskilling of about 4,000 technical teachers and instructors.\n<\/p>\n
Recent flag-off reports show that Cohort 3 training is being implemented in several states and the Federal Capital Territory, with beneficiaries being trained in skills suited to local economic opportunities.\n<\/p>\n
In Cross River State, 1,225 youths are undergoing training through seven Training Service Providers in areas including makeup, hair installation and gele tying, fashion and garment making, fishery and aquaculture, and catering and hospitality.\n<\/p>\n
In Benue State, 1,475 youths have been enrolled under the third cohort, while Kogi State has commenced training for more than 1,000 beneficiaries through 10 Training Service Providers operating from 10 skills acquisition centres. Kogi beneficiaries are being trained in fashion design and garment making, solar photovoltaic installation and maintenance, catering and event management, among other areas.\n<\/p>\n
Delta State has commenced training for 970 youths under Cohort 3. The state\u2019s programme covers fashion design and garment making, beauty cosmetology, network system installation, creative media, baking and confectionery, and solar photovoltaic installation and maintenance.<\/p>\n
In Oyo State, 900 youths are being trained across six Training Service Providers. The beneficiaries include 200 trainees in crop production and processing; 150 each in computer hardware and cell phone repairs, aquaculture and fisheries, livestock farming and poultry, and catering and hospitality management; while another 100 are enrolled in digital skills.\n<\/p>\n
The Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, has also recorded 777 beneficiaries under the latest phase of the programme, while Adamawa State has commenced training for 670 trainees.\n<\/p>\n
In Kwara State, reports show 500 trainees enrolled across three Training Service Providers, while Niger State has commenced Cohort 3 training for 450 youths and women in areas including fisheries and aquaculture, livestock and animal husbandry, poultry, and furniture and upholstery.\n<\/p>\n
Anambra State has also flagged off the programme for 420 trainees, while a provider-led training programme in Nasarawa State is training 200 beneficiaries in fisheries and aquaculture. Ebonyi State has recorded more than 100 beneficiaries in creative media and other digital skills.\n<\/p>\n
These reported figures show that the current Cohort 3 rollout is taking place across multiple locations rather than being limited to a single state.<\/p>\n
The IDEAS-TVET initiative is designed to strengthen practical skills development and improve access to technical and vocational competencies, with the broader objective of creating pathways into employment, entrepreneurship and enterprise development.\n<\/p>\n
In Oyo State, instructor Dr Folasade Adeboyejo said the programme would give participants practical competencies relevant to the local economy.\n<\/p>\n
For trainees in catering and hospitality management, for instance, the training covers food preparation, baking and confectionery, food safety and hygiene, hospitality operations, customer service, costing, packaging and enterprise management. )\n<\/p>\n
The Oyo programme is structured as a six-month training, comprising three months of theory and three months of practical training, with the current phase expected to run until January 2027.\n<\/p>\n
Across the programme, trainees are also expected to maintain at least 65 per cent monthly attendance to qualify for the \u20a630,000 monthly stipend provided under the initiative.<\/p>\n
Ogwu urged beneficiaries to take the opportunity seriously, stressing that the success of the programme should ultimately be measured by the ability of trainees to secure employment, establish businesses, increase their incomes and contribute to their communities.\n<\/p>\n
She also encouraged Training Service Providers and instructors to maintain high standards and ensure that beneficiaries receive adequate hands-on training and mentorship.\n<\/p>\n
Speaking at the Oyo flag-off, the Permanent Secretary in the state\u2019s Ministry of Education, Abiodun Adisa, urged beneficiaries not to despise small beginnings.\n<\/p>\n
Adisa shared his experience of starting a turkey business with six turkeys, encouraging the trainees to use the skills they acquire to build sustainable livelihoods rather than allowing unemployment to discourage them.\n<\/p>\n
He also urged the youths to focus on acquiring practical skills that could enable them to create income and employment opportunities.<\/p>\n
The Federal Government said the continued expansion of IDEAS-TVET is part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria\u2019s technical and vocational workforce while providing young people with practical alternatives for employment and entrepreneurship.\n<\/p>\n
With Cohort 3 now being implemented across several states, the programme is expected to continue expanding access to market-relevant skills and supporting young Nigerians to become employable, self-reliant and capable of building their own enterprises.\n<\/p>\n