Abuja: The Federal Government has restated its commitment to equipping Nigerian youths with technical and vocational skills to enhance employability, industrial growth, and sustainable national development. Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, conveyed this at the Industrial Training Fund (ITF)/Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA) Stakeholders’ Dialogue Forum and 2023/2024 Outstanding Trainings’ Awards Ceremony in Abuja.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Oduwole emphasized the significance of the programme as a platform for building a productive, innovative, and globally competitive Nigerian workforce. She lauded the ITF and the NECA for sustaining a transformative public-private partnership. Highlighting the Technical Skills Development Project (TSDP) as a national benchmark for skills development and industrial competitiveness, she noted that the project originated from a 2009 skill-gap survey that revealed manpower shortages in six technical trade areas across the country.
Oduwole mentioned that the initiative has expanded from six pilot trades to more than 30 trade areas, producing over 60,000 employable Nigerian youths. The programme has also upgraded 10 federal and state technical colleges and constructed six training workshops nationwide. Currently, the TSDP includes more than 84 partner organisations, reflecting the intervention’s growth and success.
The minister asserted that 90 percent of TSDP graduates have either gained employment or started their own businesses, highlighting the programme’s alignment with industry needs and national policy direction. She reiterated the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritizes technical competence, digital transformation, and innovation to drive industrialization. Oduwole congratulated the TSDP award recipients, urging them to leverage their skills for job creation and national growth. She was represented by Mr. Eyitayo Oshinowo, Director of the Industrial Inspectorate Department of the ministry.
Minister of Labour and Employment, Alhaji Muhammad Dingyadi, praised the TSDP as a model for transforming human capital development in Nigeria through public-private partnerships. He encouraged stakeholders to strengthen collaboration and align training with global competency standards. Dingyadi, represented by Tiza Chaakaa, Director of Skills Development and Certification of the ministry, assured continued governmental support for initiatives fostering innovation, productivity, and inclusive economic growth.
Dr. Afiz Ogun, Director-General of ITF, highlighted the programme’s role in addressing youth restiveness by providing relevant skills, knowledge, and materials to young Nigerians. He explained that the TSDP empowers participants to become self-reliant and employers of labor through hands-on technical skills, with beneficiaries monitored post-graduation to assess their application of acquired skills and community impact. Ogun noted significant progress among trainees, demonstrating tangible and measurable results.
Mr. Adewale-Smatt Oyerinde, Director-General of NECA, remarked on the 16-year partnership’s growth from six to over 80 collaborating organisations. Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite, Minister of State for Finance, pledged continued support for the ITF and NECA in ensuring inclusive growth through skills and vocational training for Nigerian youth. Senator John Owan-Ewah, Minister of State for Industry, commended the collaboration’s effectiveness in equipping youths with relevant practical skills for employment in technical and vocational sectors.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that 37 individuals received awards for outstanding trainees in 2023 and 2024 across the country.