Chief Executive Officer & Editor-in-Chief Dapo Akande outlines FG’s quiet revolution in skills acquisition and employability at Afrika-Verein meeting in Berlin
In what marks another milestone for Nigeria’s growing education diplomacy, Mr. Dapo Akande, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of EduTimes Africa, on Tuesday addressed members of the German-African Business Association (Afrika-Verein) in Berlin, Germany.
Speaking under the theme “Education and Qualification,” Akande delivered a paper titled “Nigeria’s Quiet Revolution: The Federal Government’s Agenda to Reinforce Academic Certificates and Enhance Employability through Skills Acquisition in One of the World’s Most Youthful Populations.”
The event, which drew participation from more than 500 German companies with business interests across Africa, provided a platform for EduTimes Africa to spotlight Nigeria’s sweeping education reforms—particularly the Federal Government’s renewed focus on Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and the introduction of a free tuition and stipend-backed national skills scheme aimed at equipping millions of Nigerian youths for the labour market.
Akande, whose publication has consistently championed the TVET cause since inception, underscored that education must empower individuals with agency, knowledge, and income-generating skills while enabling self-actualisation. “From the very beginning, EduTimes Africa has carried the TVET flag,” he told participants, recalling past interviews with key education stakeholders such as Christian Stehlin (GIZ), Dr. Nader Imani (FESTO), and Dr. Norbert Voelker (VDMA).
The presentation drew attention to the Federal Government’s new secondary school curriculum, which places unprecedented emphasis on vocational studies, entrepreneurship, and practical skills ranging from solar installation and garment making to digital literacy and agriculture.
Akande also cited the government’s three-track TVET initiative—Master 6, Master 12, and Technical College Track—as a game-changer in bridging the skills gap, boosting employability, and restoring confidence in Nigerian qualifications.
He expressed appreciation to Dr. Nader Imani, Vice President, Education at FESTO Didactic and Private Sector Advisor to the European Union, and Katarina Kunert of Afrika-Verein, for facilitating the invitation, as well as Mr. Adebayo Onigbanjo, Special Adviser to the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, for providing critical insights.
Akande also lauded his fellow guest speaker, Mr. Bright Jaja, CEO of iCreate Africa, for his “superb and insightful presentation.”
Quoting Nigeria’s Minister of Education, Dr. Alausa, Akande reminded participants that “our greatest resource is not beneath the ground—it is the energy, creativity, and talent of our people.”
“With over 70 per cent of Nigeria’s population below the age of 30, this is where the nation’s future lies,” he said. “In our energy, our ambition, and our skills.”
EduTimes Africa, a product of Education Times Africa, is a magazine publication that aims to lend its support to close the yawning gap in Africa's educational development.