The Federal Government, in partnership with the World Bank, has launched a new round of technical and vocational training aimed at 80,000 young Nigerians nationwide. The initiative, implemented through the Federal Ministry of Education’s Innovation Development and Effectiveness in the Acquisition of Skills (IDEAS) Project, formally commenced its third cohort on Friday in Abuja.
Abuja Flag-Off Marks Start of Training for 777 Participants
The flag-off ceremony at the Abuja Trade and Convention Centre signalled the beginning of training for 777 young Nigerians across seven accredited Training Service Providers in the Federal Capital Territory. The programme is designed to equip participants with practical, market-relevant skills through a combination of competency development, industry internships, and employment support.
The IDEAS Project seeks to expand access to quality technical and vocational education, with participating centres delivering competency-based training aligned with National Skills Qualification standards. Training covers digital and creative media, beauty and cosmetology, construction and building trades, as well as agriculture and agribusiness.
Training Model Connects Skills to Workplace Requirements
Under the training model, participants will progress from practical instruction to industry internships, followed by employment support. This structure is intended to connect skills acquired during training with workplace requirements, preparing young people for work across different sectors of the economy.
The Abuja launch brings together providers with different areas of specialisation under a shared framework for developing occupational competence. The seven participating providers are the ACCI Business Entrepreneurship Skills and Technology Centre, Onidiri Home of Beauty, the Gemological Institute of Nigeria, iLearn Learning Spaces, Germnig Consultants Limited, Dari Investments Limited, and Binley and Bramble, which is participating in partnership with School Hunters.
Official Emphasises Competence Over Certificates
Speaking at the ceremony, Professor Adesoji Adesugba, First Deputy President of the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) and Chairman of its Business Entrepreneurship Skills and Technology (BEST) Centre, said the initiative would help address the mismatch between available workers and the skills employers require. He argued that Nigeria’s large youth population must be matched with the practical capabilities needed to participate productively in the economy.
“Nigeria’s challenge is not a shortage of young people. It is a shortage of young people equipped with skills the market is willing to pay for,” Adesugba said. “Our economy does not need more certificates. It needs more competence. That is why this programme is deliberately practical. By the end of it, each trainee will hold not just a certificate, but a portfolio of real work.”
His remarks placed practical achievement at the centre of the programme, with trainees expected to demonstrate their abilities through completed work. For this cohort, the stated focus is on building demonstrable skills and supporting the transition into industry.
National Youth Data Bank Also Launched
In a related development, the federal government has officially launched the National Youth Data Bank (NYDB), a programme to register every Nigerian between the ages of 15 and 35 and build a centralised record of the country's youth population. Minister of Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande, announced the launch on Tuesday, September 29, in Abuja, saying the database would capture young Nigerians in both the formal and informal sectors, covering fields such as agriculture, sports, technology, and the creative industries.
The combination of practical training, internships, and employment support in the IDEAS Project is designed to give participants a clearer connection between what they learn and the demands of the labour market. The initiative targeting 80,000 youths nationwide represents a significant step in addressing skills gaps in Nigeria’s workforce.
