The Federal Government has begun technical and vocational training for 777 young Nigerians under the third cohort of the Innovation Development and Effectiveness in the Acquisition of Skills – Technical and Vocational Education and Training (IDEAS-TVET) project to improve their transition into the labour market.
The project was inaugurated on Friday in Abuja, with participants set to receive practical skills in areas including digital and creative media, beauty and cosmetology, construction and agriculture, as part of efforts to equip young Nigerians with skills relevant to employment and entrepreneurship.
The President of the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), Chief Emeka Obegolu, disclosed this while speaking at the inauguration of the IDEAS-TVET project. He was represented at the event by the First Deputy President of ACCI, Prof. Adesoji Adesugba.
Obegolu said the IDEAS Project, which is funded by the World Bank, had previously trained approximately 80,000 young Nigerians across the country.
He said the 777 participants would begin the latest phase of training under the project’s third cohort, with seven institutions partnering to provide practical skills training.
According to him, the institutions were working towards a common national objective rather than competing against one another.
Obegolu said the training would cover digital and creative media, beauty and cosmetology, construction, agriculture and other market-driven areas.
He said the programme was designed to address the need for practical skills and produce competent young people whose abilities matched the demands of the labour market.
“The programme addressed the need for practical skills, noting that Nigeria required competent young people whose abilities matched demands in the labour market,” he said.
He explained that the training would be practical, with participants expected to shoot, edit, design and produce materials as part of their weekly learning activities.
Obegolu said participants would graduate with certificates and portfolios demonstrating their practical experience and abilities, which could support employment, freelancing or entrepreneurship.
He urged the participants to make the most of the opportunity by attending classes regularly, asking questions and practising consistently during and after the training.
The ACCI president also encouraged the participants to approach every assignment professionally, saying the skills they acquired could remain useful throughout their careers.
He urged the training providers to ensure quality instruction, maintain accurate records and strictly follow approved curricula and project standards.
Obegolu thanked the Ministry of Education’s IDEAS Project Coordinating Unit and the World Bank for supporting the initiative.
One of the participants, Miss Josephine Abiodun, expressed gratitude to the ministry, ACCI and other organisers for providing the opportunity.
“It is a big privilege, and I cannot take it for granted,” she said.
The IDEAS Project is an initiative of the Federal Ministry of Education, supported by the World Bank, and is designed to expand access to quality technical and vocational education and training across Nigeria.
Approximately 80,000 young Nigerians have been trained nationwide across the project’s previous cohorts.
Under the current cohort, participating providers will deliver structured, competency-based training aligned with National Skills Qualification standards.
The training will be followed by industry internships and employment support to facilitate participants’ transition into the labour market.
