FG Deepens TVET Reforms, Empowers Nigerians

The Federal Government has intensified efforts to deepen technical and vocational education reforms, empowering Nigerians with practical skills for employment and entrepreneurship through its Innovation Development and Effectiveness in Acquisition of Skills (IDEAS) Project.

Under the initiative, 75 beneficiaries are undergoing free training in beauty and cosmetology at Elegant Twins Institute of Cosmetology, Surulere, Lagos, while other students are acquiring technical and vocational skills at the Federal Technical College (FTC), Yaba.

The development emerged during a monitoring exercise by the National Project Monitoring Officer for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and IDEAS in the Office of the Minister of Education, Mr Olatunji Odewunmi, to assess training delivery, institutional performance and compliance with programme requirements.

The exercise, which covered the two training centres, was also aimed at evaluating beneficiaries’ progress and ensuring that government investments in vocational education translated into measurable outcomes.

The IDEAS Project, a Federal Government initiative supported by the World Bank and implemented through the Federal Ministry of Education, is designed to strengthen Nigeria’s TVET system, improve institutional capacity and equip learners with industry-relevant competencies.

It also complements the government’s broader TVET reform agenda under Pillar One of the National Education Sector Renewal Initiative (NESRI).

Speaking during the exercise, Odewunmi commended Elegant Twins Institute for the quality of instruction, practical training and enthusiasm demonstrated by the beneficiaries.

He said the monitoring exercise was necessary to ensure that participating centres fulfilled their obligations and that the programme achieved its objectives.

According to him, Lagos State has approximately 128 TVET centres providing opportunities for Nigerians to acquire vocational skills.

He explained that the programme provides support for essential training requirements, including registration, accommodation and learning materials, while beneficiaries receive a monthly stipend of N30,000.

The training service providers, he added, receive N50,000 per trainee monthly to facilitate effective delivery.

Odewunmi said the intervention was designed to strengthen Nigeria’s skilled workforce, develop local technical capacity and reduce the country’s dependence on foreign artisans.

He added that the programme would equip young Nigerians with the competencies required to secure employment or establish sustainable businesses.

At Federal Technical College, Yaba, the IDEAS Project Manager, Abimbola Oyedeji, said the intervention, which commenced about five years ago, had contributed to increased student enrolment and improved practical skills acquisition at the institution.

She identified the vocational areas supported by the programme as Blocklaying and Concreting, Tiling, Woodwork, Auto Body Building and Computer Craft.

According to her, the training covers practical competencies in block production, tile installation, furniture making, upholstery, carpentry, joinery, panel beating, automobile mechanics, Information and Communication Technology and Robotics Engineering.

Catering Craft is also covered under the programme.

Oyedeji expressed appreciation to the Federal Government for its support, saying the intervention had strengthened technical education, improved institutional capacity and provided students with opportunities to acquire skills relevant to the world of work.

At Elegant Twins Institute of Cosmetology, the Centre Manager, Kunle Oladunjoye, disclosed that the institute had been selected as a training service provider to train 75 beneficiaries in beauty and cosmetology.

He described the selection process as transparent and merit-based, explaining that applicants underwent interviews and verification of their information before being admitted.

Oladunjoye said qualified professional instructors, including former students with considerable industry experience, were responsible for delivering the training.

He noted that the beneficiaries had demonstrated encouraging progress and were already acquiring the confidence and practical skills required to establish their own businesses.

He commended the Federal Government for meeting its financial obligations to the training centre and providing monthly stipends to beneficiaries, saying the support had facilitated effective training delivery.

The founder of the institute, Mrs Elizabeth Adebisi Oshisoya, who traced her involvement in cosmetology training to 1950, described the intervention as an important opportunity to expand access to professional vocational skills.

She recalled her longstanding training activities in Ibadan, Ijebu and Calabar, expressing appreciation to the Federal Government for supporting vocational empowerment and self-reliance.

Some beneficiaries also shared their experiences, commending the government for providing free training and financial support.

Abdulhakeem Shamsudeen said he had acquired additional skills in nail technology and makeup, building on his previous knowledge of the beauty industry.

He confirmed that the training was free and that he received the monthly N30,000 stipend.

Similarly, Omotosho Okwemi praised the government for the opportunity, while Boma Messe-Britz said she had acquired practical knowledge in makeup, hairdressing, nail technology and spa services.

The beneficiaries commended their instructors and called on the Federal Government to sustain the initiative to enable more Nigerians to benefit.