By Ngozi Nwankwo
Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, says Nigeria’s future workforce will be driven by market-relevant skills rather than certificates alone, as the Federal Government intensifies reforms to link education to jobs and productivity.
Alausa stated this at a panel session titled “Building Nigeria’s Future Workforce” during the 32nd Nigerian Economic Summit organised by the Nigerian Economic Summit Group, NESG, in Abuja.
He said the government was repositioning education through expanded technical and vocational training, curriculum modernisation and stronger collaboration with industry to bridge skills gaps and improve employability.
The Minister disclosed that nearly 250,000 Nigerians have been enrolled under the Federal Government’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training, TVET, initiative across more than 1,200 accredited centres and production hubs nationwide.
He explained that following a labour market and skills gap analysis, the government streamlined 82 training areas to 28 market-relevant trades, with 80 percent hands-on learning and 20 percent theory.
According to him, eligible trainees receive a monthly stipend of N30,000 while participating centres receive N50,000 per learner monthly to support delivery, with tuition free at federal technical colleges.
Alausa noted that the programme attracted about 1.4 million applications within two weeks of opening its latest portal, underscoring demand for skills acquisition among youths.
He said the revised national curriculum, which took effect from the 2025/2026 academic session, reduces subjects at senior secondary level and incorporates Digital Technologies and trade subjects to strengthen digital literacy and practical skills.
The Minister added that the Ministry is deploying artificial intelligence to support teachers in lesson planning and assessment, while ensuring its use does not undermine cognitive development at primary level.
On tertiary education, Alausa said the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, NELFUND, had disbursed N372.62 billion to students and institutions as of September 29, 2026, to address financial barriers.
He said the Ministry, working with the National Universities Commission, is promoting industry-relevant courses and piloting the Entrepreneurial Innovation and Business Incubation Certification programme in 14 universities, with plans to expand nationwide next academic session.
Alausa called for stronger partnerships between government, schools and employers in defining occupational standards, shaping curricula, assessing competencies and providing workplace training.
He stressed that the success of reforms should be measured by employment, enterprise creation, improved earnings and national productivity, not just enrolment and graduation figures.
