Discussing the Role of Skills Development, Inclusion and Green Growth in Nigeria at the National TVET Conference in Lagos, Nigeria
For too long, TVET has been cast as an alternative, a secondary option for Nigerian youths who couldn’t qualify for universities or polytechnics, or those who did not make it elsewhere. What the National TVET Conference 2026 made clear is that this narrative is changing. TVET is being repositioned not as a fallback, but as an engaging and dignified opportunity. As Dr. Maruf Olatunji, Minister of Education stated: dignity of labour has returned.
The opening day set a clear and urgent tone “Lagos cannot do it alone”. The message echoed across multiple speeches, panels and presentations, underscoring the need for a unified national approach to TVET governance, one that aligns the priorities of federal and state institutions, training providers, regulators, and the private sector.
“Corridor based initiatives to enable cross border skills mobility are a focus of today’s discussion. Across the globe, countries are increasingly recognising that strong responsive and future oriented TVET systems are indispensable for preparing young people with practical and adaptable competencies.” Head of German Development Cooperation, German Embassy, Dr Karen Jansen, stated in her speech.
To set a stronger tune for the day, the head of European Union cooperation of Nigeria and ECOWAS, Mr Massimo De Luca mentioned that “Through the team Europe initiative, the EU has been working with the French, German cooperation and National Business and Technical Examinations Board NABTEB to strengthen technical vocational education by investing in the high performing sectors of the country”.
He added that efforts towards the agricultural sector through various agricultural institutes and the Nigeria Jubilee Fellows Programme have been making significant differences in the labour market.
Dr. Maruf Olatunji reinforced the economic thought behind that alignment, cautioning that Nigeria’s youthful demography if left untransformed by skills and education risks becoming a demographic disaster. Only by deliberately shifting TVET from a marginal path into a robust system of skilled artisans and technical professionals, he argued, can Nigeria translate population into productivity, and productivity into national development.
Prof. Idris Abubakar Bugaje of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) offered a candid appraisal; Nigeria and Africa must restructure their TVET systems to reduce poverty and address youth unemployment. He stressed that TVET must be fully and consistently funded, and that systemic challenges including the chronic power supply problem must be resolved if industries and training institutions are to function at the level required. The goal, he noted, is to prepare Nigerian youth to compete globally.
Perhaps the most tangible evidence of momentum came from the figures shared by Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, Deputy Governor of Lagos. He stated, over the years, the National TVET has enrolled 150,000 trainees, 1,600 training centres expanded, 2,500 quality assurance personnel trained, and more than 40 technical experts deployed nationwide. The launch of a national skills training centre was described as marking a fundamental shift from credentials to competences, and from education to employment.
Charles Odii, Director General of the MSME Development Agency, grounded the conversation in the realities facing small businesses. He quoted, power, finance, and skills remain the three defining constraints. He called for curricula that are forward-looking, noting that Nigeria would need to produce thousands of AI engineers in the coming years, a target that demands systems willing to evolve.
Dr. Samson Ebimaro emphasised that results and impact matter more than intent. Accelerating implementation of ongoing reforms, he argued, is essential to ensuring that the benefits reach millions of Nigerians, not just those in urban or accessible regions.
The last day shifted attention to employability, workforce development and the future of work.
A key discussion focused on labour mobility and the Lagos–Abidjan Corridor, with speakers stressing that skills development must go beyond training alone. Speakers highlighted the need for stronger systems for certification, recognition and the portability of qualifications across borders to improve employment opportunities throughout the region.
The conference also examined the need for TVET curricula to evolve alongside emerging technologies and changing industry requirements.
The topics covered in the 3 days of the conference remain relevant for APODISSI and the projects it is involved with such as GROW and CircuWasteVETAfrica. We believe that projects like these, co-funded by the European Union through the Erasmus+ Programme, can serve as practical models for modern, relevant, and impactful TVET. The ambition for Nigeria to produce a workforce ready career from TVET education is present. What remains is the sustained political will, consistent funding, and collaborative action to match the scale of the need.
