The Federal Government has approved the establishment of a Technical Working Group to implement reforms in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), as part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s skills development ecosystem and align workforce training with national economic priorities.
The decision was one of the major resolutions reached at the 9th National Council on Skills Meeting, chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima.
The Council also advanced work on the National Skills Database, an initiative expected to improve planning, coordination and labour market intelligence while ensuring skills development responds to the needs of the economy.
Speaking after the meeting, the First Vice Chairman of the National Council on Skills said the Council had renewed its commitment to a coordinated approach to skills development.
“The meeting reaffirmed our shared commitment to the One Government Approach, strengthening collaboration across Ministries, Departments and Agencies to build a coordinated, efficient and industry-responsive skills ecosystem,” he said.
He noted that stronger collaboration among key institutions would accelerate the implementation of reforms.
“Through stronger institutional alignment between NBTE, ITF and other key stakeholders, we are accelerating the implementation of reforms that will deliver meaningful outcomes for Nigerians,” he said.
According to him, the newly approved Technical Working Group will drive the implementation of recommendations from the National TVET Conference organised in collaboration with GIZ.
“We approved the establishment of a Technical Working Group to translate key resolutions into actionable reforms that will further strengthen Technical and Vocational Education and Training across the country,” he said.
On the National Skills Database, he said the initiative would provide reliable data to support policy decisions and workforce planning.
“We also advanced work on the National Skills Database, a critical initiative that will improve planning, coordination and labour market intelligence, ensuring that skills development is driven by evidence and aligned with the needs of our economy,” he stated.
The First Vice Chairman said the reforms were designed to support the Nigerian Education Sector Renewal Initiative (NESRI) Six-Point Agenda.
“These efforts directly support the NESRI Six-Point Agenda, particularly our commitment to strengthening Technical and Vocational Education and Training as a pathway to job creation, innovation, industrial productivity and inclusive economic growth,” he said.
He added that the initiatives were also aligned with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
“Under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, we remain focused on transforming Nigeria from a resource-based economy into a knowledge-based economy powered by skilled, productive and globally competitive citizens,” he said.
Emphasising the long-term goal of the reforms, he concluded:
“By investing in skills, we are laying the human capital foundation required to achieve the President’s vision of a $1 trillion economy.”