The Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry of Education (FME), has disclosed plans to enrol and onboard an additional 150,000 beneficiaries into the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET Trainees Program) Initiative within the next two to three months. This expansion forms part of an initial intake of 250,000 participants, with a long-term target of equipping more than one million young Nigerians with technical skills over the next two years.
The disclosure followed the Ministry’s response to a widely circulated media report that examined skills shortages in Nigeria and across Africa, using reliance on foreign technical experts in major industrial projects as an example of local capacity gaps.
In its response, the Ministry stated that it welcomes the renewed national conversation on skills development, workforce preparedness, and technical capacity building. It noted that the concerns raised in the report underscore the relevance and urgency of the reforms currently being pursued by the Federal Government under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, particularly in the area of technical and vocational education.
The Ministry explained that TVET has been elevated as a national priority because sustainable economic growth depends on a skilled workforce. It said the TVET Initiative was introduced to reposition technical education as a core driver of Nigeria’s economic transformation rather than a secondary option.
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According to the Ministry, the programme has already begun changing perceptions among young Nigerians about technical and vocational careers. It revealed that more than 100,000 trainees are currently undergoing training across over 1,600 programmes in Federal and State Technical Colleges, Skills Training Centres, and accredited Vocational Enterprise Institutions nationwide.
It further clarified that this first set of 100,000 trainees belongs to the larger cohort of 250,000 Nigerians expected to be fully enrolled within the next two to three months. The Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to training over one million youths within two years, describing the rollout of the TVET Initiative as highly successful so far.
The training programmes are tailored to priority skills that align with national development objectives and current labour market needs. Key focus areas include industrial mechanics, electrical installation, welding and fabrication, mechatronics, solar photovoltaic systems, compressed natural gas (CNG) conversion and maintenance, refrigeration and HVAC, as well as information and communication technology (ICT).
The Ministry added that all TVET programmes are developed in partnership with industry stakeholders to ensure graduates are not only certified but also ready for employment. As part of this effort, technical institutions nationwide are undergoing upgrades through curriculum reviews, provision of modern equipment, instructor capacity development, and strengthened quality assurance frameworks.
To maintain training standards, FME confirmed that trained Quality Assurance Assessors and Internal Quality Assurance Managers have been deployed across the country to ensure outcomes meet both national occupational standards and global benchmarks.
In supporting trainee participation and completion, the Federal Government approved structured stipend payments. The Ministry noted that the first batch of funds has already been released to training centres, alongside stipend disbursements to beneficiaries, to promote accountability and sustainability.
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It also disclosed that international partnerships are being used to support curriculum updates, instructor training, and institutional strengthening, stressing that these collaborations are aimed at long-term capacity development and knowledge transfer rather than replacing Nigerian workers.
Describing the programme as Nigeria’s structured and sustainable response to skills shortages, the Ministry reiterated its commitment to building a skills-driven economy where Nigerians are equipped to operate, maintain, and grow local industries.
Finally, the Ministry advised applicants whose TVET dashboard currently displays “Pending” to expect status updates from February 2026, when approvals for the next batch of trainees will be completed.
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