The Federal Ministry of Education has commenced a two-day capacity-building workshop for State Project Monitoring Officers (PMOs) under the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Programme as part of preparations for the rollout of Cohort 2.
The workshop, themed “Strengthening Monitoring, Compliance and Programme Delivery for Cohort 2 Implementation,” is aimed at enhancing the capacity of monitoring officers to effectively oversee training centres, support implementation processes and ensure quality skills acquisition for beneficiaries across the country.
Speaking at the opening of the workshop in Abuja, the National Coordinator of Special Programmes under the Minister of Education, Adebayo Onigbanjo, described the training as a critical step toward consolidating the gains already recorded under the programme.
He said State PMOs play a vital role in monitoring accredited training centres, ensuring compliance with programme guidelines and safeguarding the quality of instruction delivered to trainees.
According to him, the TVET programme remains a key component of the Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative (NESRI), designed to equip Nigerians with practical, industry-relevant and employable skills.
Onigbanjo noted that the workshop would align monitoring officers on their responsibilities while exposing them to the operational framework of the biometric registration system deployed across training centres nationwide.
He stressed that technology-driven monitoring mechanisms have been introduced to strengthen accountability, improve data integrity and ensure that support reaches genuine beneficiaries.
“Transparency remains at the heart of the TVET initiative. Every trainee is biometrically registered, while payments are made directly into beneficiaries’ bank accounts, eliminating opportunities for abuse and ensuring accountability throughout the implementation process,” he said.
The coordinator disclosed that the programme currently has more than 1,600 accredited training centres spread across the country and present in nearly every local government area, making effective monitoring essential to maintaining standards and resolving operational challenges promptly.
Also speaking, the National Project Monitoring Officer for TVET and IDEAS, Odewunmi Olatunji, said the workshop provides an opportunity to assess lessons learned from the first phase of implementation and strengthen preparations for Cohort 2.
He explained that the engagement would enable state-level officers to share experiences from the field, identify implementation gaps and develop practical solutions to improve programme delivery.
“This engagement allows us to receive feedback from officers directly involved in implementation at the state level. Their experiences are invaluable in helping us improve coordination and ensure that challenges encountered during the first phase are not repeated,” Olatunji said.
He added that the workshop brings together key stakeholders, including officials of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), biometric registration service providers and other programme partners to ensure alignment ahead of the next phase.
Discussions at the workshop are expected to focus on funding processes, payments to training centres and beneficiaries, compliance requirements, accreditation procedures, reporting frameworks and strategies for improving programme performance nationwide.
The Federal Ministry of Education reaffirmed its commitment to developing a skilled workforce capable of driving national development through quality technical and vocational education, emphasizing that effective monitoring and accountability remain central to the success of the TVET programme.
The workshop is expected to produce a unified monitoring framework and strengthen collaboration among stakeholders as preparations intensify for the launch of Cohort 2 nationwide.This version is structured in a standard newspaper style, with a stronger news lead and tighter flow for publication.
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