PROTOCOL
It is both a privilege and a profound responsibility to welcome you all to this National Press Conference on the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Initiative, a bold and strategic effort to reposition our education system to meet the practical needs of our economy and the aspirations of our youth.
2. We are gathered here not merely to make another policy pronouncement, but to formally declare a new national resolve. A resolve to unlock the latent potential of millions of young Nigerians by equipping them with relevant, market-driven skills; a resolve to reposition TVET as a cornerstone of our economic recovery, social inclusion, and industrial competitiveness.
3. Nigeria’s greatest resource is not beneath the ground, it is in the energy, creativity, and talent of her people. With over 70 percent of our population under the age of 30, the urgency to transform demographic potential into productive capacity cannot be overstated. The TVET initiative is our coordinated, data-driven, and action-oriented response to this challenge.
4. Under the Renewed Hope Agenda of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, the Ministry of Education has identified TVET as a national priority. Today, we unveil a robust reform package anchored on the following pillars:
- Standardised Skills Certification
At the heart of this initiative lies the National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF), which sets a clear, credible, and industry-aligned pathway for skills acquisition and assessment. We are reforming the role of the National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB) and collaborating with domestic and international awarding bodies to deliver certifications that are both locally relevant and globally respected.
- Five Million Skilled Youths by 2030
Our national target is to train no fewer than five million Nigerian youths with industry-relevant, entrepreneurial, and income-generating skills by the year 2030. This is not a projection, it is a mission backed by strategic investments, implementation frameworks, and multisectoral partnerships.
- Demand-Driven Trade Areas
Based on comprehensive labour market analysis and consultations with sector leaders, we have identified 25 priority trade areas cutting across ICT, renewable energy, construction, agriculture, creative and automotive industries. These sectors represent the frontiers of economic growth and job creation.
- Stakeholder-Driven Implementation
The reform is designed to be inclusive, decentralised, and collaborative. We have already engaged State Governors, Commissioners of Education, Sector Skills Councils, regulatory agencies, employers, and development partners to build ownership at every level. Over 3,600 teachers and instructors have been retrained and upskilled, and we are scaling up the accreditation of both public and private TVET centres nationwide.
- Digital Skills Accelerator
In partnership with global learning platforms like Coursera and Pluralsight, we are launching the Digital Skills Accelerator, a national platform to deliver free training in coding, cloud computing, data analytics, and other high-demand digital fields. The Federal Government will cover the cost of training. certification, and internet connectivity to ensure universal access, especially for underserved communities.
- Incentives for Learners and Institutions
To ensure broad participation, we are introducing a package of practical incentives: tuition waivers, monthly stipends for learners, grants and single digit loans in partnership with the Bank of Industries (BOI) and business startup kits for graduates. These measures are designed to reduce attrition, promote completion, and enhance employability.
- Monitoring, Evaluation and Results-Based Financing
A dedicated TVET Delivery and Monitoring Unit is being established within the Ministry to coordinate, track, and report progress against defined key performance indicators. This will be complemented by a results-based financing mechanism to reward states and institutions that deliver measurable outcomes.
5. Our goal is not just to produce certified graduates but to build a skilled workforce that is globally competitive, entrepreneurial, and adaptable. This is the only way to bridge the skills gap, reduce youth unemployment, support local industries, and attract investments into the real economy.
6. I urge all Nigerians, Governments at all levels, private sector actors, donor agencies, civil society, and the media to see themselves as co-owners of this transformative agenda. Together, we must change the perception of TVET from an alternative to academic education, to a first-choice pathway to dignity, productivity, and national development.
Let me end by reaffirming our unwavering commitment to leave no willing Nigerian behind. Every citizen deserves access to quality education and opportunities to succeed. The TVET Initiative is a vehicle to deliver on this promise.
7. May this initiative thrive.
May our youth rise.
And may Nigeria flourish through the innovation, industry, and ingenuity of her people.
8. Thank you, and God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.