FG Intensifies Skills-to-Jobs Agenda, Targets Millions for Youth Employment
The Federal Government has ramped up its efforts to combat youth unemployment by mobilizing global development partners, industry leaders, and policymakers. This initiative focuses on aligning investments with a comprehensive nationwide skills acquisition programme designed to benefit millions of young Nigerians.
Vice President Calls for Coordinated Action
Vice President Kashim Shettima emphasized the need for stronger coordination and measurable outcomes, stating that Nigeria's economic growth hinges on a system where skills development directly translates into jobs and enterprise. He made these remarks while opening the National Skills and Industry Alignment Roundtable Series (Q1 2026), themed "Bridging Skills Supply and Labour Market Demand," in Abuja.
The event, convened by the Office of the Vice President with support from the European Union (EU), saw Shettima represented by Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Senator Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia. He highlighted that Nigeria must shift from fragmented interventions to a more structured, demand-driven approach to job creation.
"The challenge is not simply job creation, it is alignment. Nigeria does not have a talent problem. Until skills meet industry demand, job creation will remain below its full potential," Shettima asserted.
Repositioning Job Creation Strategy
Shettima detailed that the Tinubu administration is repositioning the country's job creation strategy to ensure coherence, linking training to employment and enterprise development. "We are moving away from isolated programmes and uncoordinated investments toward a national system where skills lead to jobs, jobs lead to enterprise, and enterprise drives economic growth," he explained.
He recalled that previous efforts, including mapping Nigeria's job creation ecosystem and high-level policy dialogues supported by the EU, underscored the necessity for private sector-led solutions. Shettima stressed that sustainable employment cannot be driven by government alone but requires a coordinated ecosystem where industry players actively shape workforce development.
Stakeholders Emphasize Sector-Specific Needs
Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, highlighted the initiative's importance in addressing skills gaps in key sectors like housing, where demand for skilled labour remains high. He noted that the housing sector spans a broad value chain, from architects and engineers to artisans, and requires coordinated efforts to bridge skills shortages, reduce the housing deficit, and stimulate economic growth.
EU Head of Cooperation for Nigeria and ECOWAS, Massimo De Luca, reaffirmed the EU's commitment to supporting Nigeria's skills development ecosystem through strategic partnerships. He mentioned ongoing collaborations with the Office of the Vice President, the Tony Elumelu Foundation, and other partners, focusing on building skills where they are most needed within the economy.
Strengthening Coordination Across Ecosystems
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Delivery and Coordination, Akubo Adegbe, described the roundtable as part of a sustained effort to strengthen coordination across Nigeria's job creation ecosystem. This platform aims to foster trust, align stakeholders, and drive practical, outcome-oriented solutions across various sectors.
The roundtable series serves as a structured forum to ensure that skills development initiatives are effectively linked to labour market demands, ultimately aiming to create millions of jobs and boost Nigeria's economic prospects.
