The Federal Government has verified over 960,000 Nigerian youths for technical and vocational skills training under the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) initiative of the Federal Ministry of Education.
Naijaonpoint reports that the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, disclosed this on Thursday during an inspection visit to selected partner centres implementing the programme in Abuja.
Speaking after touring the AFS Vocational Hub in Garki and Golden Finger Farms and Ranches Limited along the Kubwa–Zuba Expressway, Dei-Dei, the minister said the TVET initiative had entered its active phase, with more than 250,000 trainees currently participating in hands-on sessions across 2,600 accredited centres nationwide.
“From when we started conceiving this TVET initiative eight months ago, to now seeing the first quarter of students being trained, it shows what is possible when there’s commitment,” Alausa said.
“We took our time to curate the way this vocational training would be done.”
He described the TVET rollout as a “clear demonstration of political will and strategic coordination”, adding that the initiative is aimed at equipping Nigeria’s youth population with employable and entrepreneurial skills.
From 1.3 Million Applicants to 960,000 Verified
The minister revealed that the programme attracted massive interest from young Nigerians nationwide.
“Within the first 10 days of opening the registration portal, almost 1.3 million people applied,” Alausa said.
“We had to close it quickly because of the overwhelming response. Out of that number, 960,000 youths were verified on the portal.”
He explained that the Ministry initially identified 86 trades across the country before narrowing them down to 28 priority skill areas, including fashion and garment making, livestock production, GSM repair, plumbing, tiling, and modern farming techniques.
“We designed a curriculum that is 90 per cent practical and only 10 per cent theoretical. It was important that participants learn by doing, not just by listening,” he added.
Alausa emphasised that the government adopted a rigorous verification process to ensure transparency and prevent abuse of the initiative.
“We didn’t want this to be another era of scams. Every single one of the 960,000 youths was verified using their NIN and BVN,” he stated.
He explained that payments to partner training centres and vocational institutes are being made directly by the Ministry to eliminate middlemen and ensure accountability.
The minister reaffirmed that the programme aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s vision to create economic opportunities for young Nigerians.
“This president believes that the youth are the heartbeat of this nation. He is determined to give them the skills and opportunities they need to thrive. When he makes promises, he ensures those promises are fulfilled,” Alausa said.
He described the TVET scheme as one of the cornerstone projects of the Renewed Hope Agenda, designed to address youth unemployment through targeted capacity development.
Grants, Starter Packs for Trainees
Naijaonpoint understands that beyond the training itself, participants would receive starter packs and small business grants to help them establish self-sustaining ventures after graduation.
“We don’t want them to remain job seekers; we want them to become employers of labour. Many of these trainees are graduates from universities and polytechnics, but now they’re gaining real-life skills that will make them useful to themselves, their communities, and the nation,” Alausa explained.
The minister also clarified that the training is structured across different tiers and durations, six months at skills centres, 12 months at Vocational Enterprise Institutes, and up to three years at federal and state technical colleges.
He noted that the TVET programme is fully operational across the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), ensuring broad inclusion regardless of location or background.
“We are building a new generation of technically skilled Nigerians who can drive industrial growth and innovation,” Alausa added.
The minister concluded that the government’s investment in TVET marks a transformative shift in how Nigeria approaches education, focusing on skills that can immediately translate into livelihoods.
He assured that the Federal Ministry of Education would continue to monitor implementation, evaluate training quality, and expand partnerships with both public and private institutions to sustain the momentum.
“TVET is not just a training programme, it’s a national mission. It is about restoring dignity to work and giving young Nigerians the tools to build the future they deserve,” Alausa said.
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