The National Centre for Technology Management (NACETEM) has launched an ambitious nationwide program designed to empower one million Nigerians with critical skills over the next five years.
Building a Future-Ready Workforce
In an interactive session with reporters held in Abuja, the Director-General and Chief Executive of NACETEM, Dr. Olushola Odusanya, detailed the comprehensive initiative. He stated that the training will strategically focus on technology management, innovation systems, and entrepreneurship.
According to Dr. Odusanya, this program is a direct response to the demands of a modern, knowledge-driven economy. He emphasized that Nigeria cannot achieve sustainable development without making deliberate and significant investments in its human capital. Strengthening the national capacity for research, innovation, and the effective deployment of technology is paramount.
"Our goal is to build a critical mass of skilled Nigerians who can drive productivity, support industrial growth, and contribute meaningfully to national competitiveness," Dr. Odusanya declared.
Addressing Technical Skill Gaps
Beyond the broad tech training scheme, the NACETEM DG also spotlighted another flagship program: the Welders' Training and Certification Programme. This initiative is specifically designed to tackle the severe shortage of certified technical professionals within the country.
He explained that welding is a fundamental skill in vital sectors like construction, oil and gas, manufacturing, and infrastructure development. However, a large number of local artisans lack the formal certification that meets stringent global industry standards.
The programme aims to upgrade the technical competence of these welders, thereby enhancing their employability both within Nigeria and on the international stage. By scaling up welding certification, NACETEM hopes to support ongoing national infrastructure projects, reduce the country's dependence on foreign technical labour, and create new income opportunities for thousands of skilled artisans.
"We are establishing partnerships to train and certify welders, including in specialized areas like underwater welding, to meet high-demand needs in the oil, gas, and marine sectors," he added. "This targets human capital development, industrial competitiveness, and technology transfer, effectively reducing our reliance on expatriate expertise."
Leveraging Global Partnerships for Growth
Dr. Odusanya strongly underscored the importance of collaboration with international partners to bring advanced technology solutions and robust capacity development to Nigeria. He noted that in our increasingly interconnected world, nations that fail to leverage global expertise risk being left behind in innovation, service delivery, and human capital advancement.
Forging strong partnerships with reputable international organizations will not only accelerate the transfer of technical knowledge but also help Nigeria adopt global best practices across all critical sectors. He further explained that such collaborations could open doors for joint research initiatives, specialized training programmes, and technology-driven reforms that would strengthen national institutions and improve governance.
The NACETEM DG also highlighted the critical need to benchmark Nigeria's educational policies against international standards. He advocated for more science-based training in schools to adequately prepare students for high-income careers. In a sobering note, he decried the acute shortage of Physics teachers across the country and stressed the urgent need for special programmes to accelerate their production.
