FG targets millions of youths for skill acquisition, rallies global partners

2026-03-24 - 16:35

–As VP Shettima calls for coordinated results to drive economic growth By Johnbosco Agbakwuru ABUJA–The Federal Government, Tuesday, rallied global development partners, industry leaders, and policymakers to deepen investment in the ongoing skills acquisition drive targeting millions of Nigerian youths. This is as Vice President Kashim Shettima has called for clarity, collaboration, and coordinated results from relevant stakeholders, emphasising the need for investments in a more coherent national system, where skills lead to jobs that are enterprising enough to drive economic growth. The Vice President stated this in Abuja when he declared open the National Skills and Industry Alignment Roundtable Series (Q1 2026) with the theme, “Bridging Skills Supply and Labour Market Demand.” The event was convened by the Office of the Vice President, with support from the European Union (EU). Represented by the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President (Office of the Vice President), Senator Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia, the Vice President commended the European Union for its continued partnership and support for Nigeria’s job creation and youth development agenda. He noted that the collaboration had been instrumental in strengthening coordination and advancing collective efforts to create opportunities for young Nigerians. Senator Shettima stressed that Nigeria stands at a decisive moment in its history, noting that the country is home to one of the largest youth populations in the world, with millions entering the labour market each year—full of ambition, energy, and potential. He, however, observed that the vast majority of available jobs are informal, unstable, and not fully connected to productivity and growth, requiring sustained and targeted interventions to ensure graduates are job-ready and equipped with relevant skills. “This tells us one thing very clearly—the challenge is not simply job creation; it is alignment. Nigeria does not have a talent problem. Until skills meet industry demand, job creation will remain below its full potential,” he said. Spotlighting the government’s position, the Vice President affirmed that the Tinubu administration is determined to address this challenge. He continued: “We are moving away from fragmented programmes, isolated interventions, and uncoordinated investments toward a more coherent national system—one where skills lead to jobs, jobs lead to enterprise, and enterprise drives economic growth. “Last year, under the leadership of the Vice President and with the support of the European Union, the Office of the Vice President undertook a mapping of the national job creation ecosystem and convened a National High-Level Policy Dialogue on Job Creation. “That engagement made it clear that sustainable employment will not come from government alone, but from a coordinated ecosystem where the private sector leads and government enables. It is in continuation of that effort that we are gathered here today.” VP Shettima further noted that the Roundtable Series was designed as a structured platform for engagement, bringing together policymakers, industry leaders, development partners, and institutions to align efforts, build trust, and drive practical solutions. He stated that, beyond ongoing multi-faceted investments, the Federal Government seeks to move from dialogue to deliberate action, connecting the dots between training and employment, education and industry, and policy and outcomes. He emphasised that while government must align programmes with real economic demand, all stakeholders have a role to play in actualising President Tinubu’s skills policy direction. “Job creation cannot be outsourced to government alone—industry must take its place at the table, not just as employers but as co-creators of the workforce Nigeria needs. The private sector must clearly articulate the skills it requires and actively participate in shaping them. “Development partners also have a critical role—not just in funding programmes, but in supporting alignment, coordination, and scale around what works. Ultimately, what we are seeking is simple—clarity, collaboration, and results,” the VP said. The Vice President declared that the time for fragmented action was over, stressing that the moment demands coordinated results, even as he said Nigeria has the talent, energy, and opportunity, but requires coordination, discipline, and execution from relevant stakeholders. Earlier, the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, stated that the roundtable was very important to the ministry, noting that many employers are seeking skilled workers. He explained that housing development involves a wide chain of activities—from architects to engineers to bricklayers—and requires collaboration among stakeholders and development partners to address the housing deficit, which will, in turn, drive economic growth. For his part, the EU Head of Cooperation for Nigeria and ECOWAS, Massimo De Luca, acknowledged ongoing collaboration with the Office of the Vice President, the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, and other development partners, including the Tony Elumelu Foundation, to drive impact in skills development and job creation. According to him, the EU has, in recent years, focused on fostering organic engagement within Nigeria’s production system. “We grow skills where they matter, where they are required, and where they are defined,” he said, commending the Office of the Vice President for ensuring that relevant fellowship programmes for Nigerians such as 3MTT are embedded within a broader ecosystem. The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Delivery and Coordination, Akubo Adegbe, described the roundtable series as a deliberate and ongoing effort by the Office of the Vice President and the EU to strengthen coordination across Nigeria’s job creation ecosystem. He added that the series serves as a structured platform to bring together key actors to deliberate on how to impact priority sectors of the economy, moving from collaboration to measurable outcomes. Other participants at the roundtable include representatives of the Organised Private Sector, the German Agency for International Cooperation, the Tony Elumelu Foundation, and the Aliko Dangote Foundation.