The Federal Government has intensified efforts to reposition Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) as a key driver of economic transformation, job creation and industrial growth, with over 150,000 Nigerians currently undergoing skills training across accredited centres nationwide.
Speaking at the National TVET Conference 2026 in Lagos, the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, said the Renewed Hope Agenda is reshaping Nigeria’s education system to produce skilled workers, innovators and entrepreneurs rather than job seekers.
He explained that through the Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative (NESRI), the government is strengthening the National Skills Qualification Framework, expanding competency-based training and improving quality assurance mechanisms across the country.
Alausa said the reforms are designed to address Nigeria’s rising youth population entering the labour market annually, noting that skills development has become central to national productivity and economic competitiveness.
He added that emerging sectors such as artificial intelligence, robotics, renewable energy, cybersecurity and advanced manufacturing would define future job opportunities, making sustained investment in TVET essential.
The minister was also conferred with the TVET Champion of the Year Award in recognition of his role in advancing skills development reforms.
The Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, who represented Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, described TVET as a strategic pathway to employment, innovation and national development.
He said Lagos State is expanding technical colleges and strengthening partnerships with industry players to equip young Nigerians with practical, digital and entrepreneurial skills.
Hamzat also called for stronger collaboration among government, industry and development partners to build a skills-driven economy capable of meeting global technological demands.
The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Education, Mr. Abel Olumuyiwa Enitan, reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to making TVET central to employment creation, inclusion and sustainable growth.
He stressed the need to align training outcomes with labour market requirements and commended initiatives such as WorldSkills Nigeria.
Development partners including Germany, Switzerland, UNESCO, UNICEF, the European Union, GIZ and the Lagos State Government also reiterated their support for Nigeria’s TVET reforms.
The three-day conference, themed “Harnessing TVET as a Pathway to Employment: Building a System for Employability, Inclusion and Green Growth in Nigeria,” brought together policymakers, industry leaders and development partners to strengthen the country’s skills ecosystem.
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