Mariam Abeeb
The Federal government through the Ministry of Education has set to to train 5 million young Nigerians with globally relevant skills within four years to close the skill gaps and provide opportunities for youth .
The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa made this announcement at the during the 2025 Quarterly Citizens and Stakeholders Engagement on the Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative (NESRI) held in Abuja.
Alausa explained that the initiative aims to shift Nigeria’s education system toward a skill-based, knowledge-driven economy and also strengthening Technical and Vocational Education and Training .
The minister noted that the federal government has upgraded 38 federal and state technical colleges as part of a broad reform to equip Nigerian youths with internationally competitive skills.
He revealed that the government had introduced a dual-training model in the technical colleges, with students spending 80 per cent of their time in practical training and 20 per cent in the classroom.
“Artisans will be paid to mentor trainees, establishing a new value chain in the education sector.
“Our goal is to train 5 million young Nigerians with globally relevant skills within four years,” Alausa stated.
He said,”NESRI addresses issues of access, quality, inclusivity, research, and professional development in education.”
Highlighting the challenges, Alausa noted that Nigeria currently had 15 million out-of-school children and over 45 million classified as learning poor.
He said adolescent girls, particularly the 6 million aged 12–19 currently out-of-school, remained a key focus of the reforms.
Alausa announced that the National Examinations Council, and the West African Examinations Council would begin conducting computer-based tests (CBT) from November 2025, with full digitization of all national examinations, including JAMB, by 2027.
He said the move was to tackle examination fraud and enhance integrity.
The Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba has emphasised the importance of TVET in addressing Nigeria’s skills gap and reducing reliance on foreign workers.
“We have seen companies hiring 60 per cent of their workforce from abroad. That must change,” she said.
However , she has announced that the Federal government through the Ministry of Education has launched a national policy on anti bullying in Nigerian schools.
While inaugurating the 14 members committee, she warned that bullying or harassment will not tolerated in school across the country
“This committee were selected carefully to include expert in educational psychology, expert in education, experts in student welfare, and are entrusted to ensure that they are able to come up with effective strategy to not only prevent but address bullying in our schools.
“Let this committee be a catalyst for the change we seek. Our mission is to create an enabling environment, a safe, respectful and also inclusive learning environment for every child in our country. It is my honor to officially in enorm these committee,” she stated.
