The Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry of Education, yesterday flagged off technical and vocational skills training for 777 young Nigerians in Abuja under the third cohort of the Innovation Development and Effectiveness in the Acquisition of Skills (IDEAS) Project.

The joint ceremony, held at the Abuja Trade and Convention Centre, brought together seven accredited Training Service Providers (TSPs) implementing the programme in the Federal Capital Territory.

The World Bank funded project is designed to expand access to quality technical and vocational education and training, strengthen skills delivery institutions and improve labour market outcomes for young Nigerians.

Across its cohorts, the project is training approximately 80,000 young Nigerians nationwide. Under the current cohort, beneficiaries are receiving competency based training aligned with National Skills Qualification standards, followed by industry internship and employment support.

The 777 trainees in Abuja are being trained in areas including digital and creative media, beauty and cosmetology, construction and building trades, agriculture and agribusiness, among others.

Speaking at the ceremony, the First Deputy President of the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) and Chairman of the ACCI Business, Entrepreneurship, Skills and Technology (BEST) Centre, Prof. Adesoji Adesugba, said the initiative was addressing the gap between Nigeria’s growing youth population and the skills demanded by the labour market.

“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.” he said

He urged the beneficiaries to maximise the opportunity, noting that course fees, equipment, facilities and instruction had been provided on their behalf, while encouraging them to practise continuously and apply the skills to employment, freelancing or entrepreneurship.

Speaking on behalf of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), Builder Lawrence Gabriel, External Quality Assurance Manager, said the trainees would undergo competency assessments before receiving the National Skills Qualification (NSQ) certification.

He said the emphasis should be on competence rather than certificates, noting that technological changes were reshaping the labour market.