FG to Establish 270 Vocational Training Centres Nationwide to Tackle Youth Unemployment and Skills Gap

FG to Establish 270 Vocational Training Centres Nationwide to Tackle Youth Unemployment and Skills Gap

Abuja, Nigeria — June 2025

In a renewed effort to tackle unemployment and bridge the widening skills gap among Nigeria’s teeming youth population, the Federal Government has announced plans to establish 270 vocational training centres across the country. The initiative, which forms part of the government’s broader national human capital development strategy, aims to empower young Nigerians with practical, market-relevant skills that promote self-employment, job creation, and economic growth.

According to the Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment, the vocational centres will be strategically located in both urban and rural communities to ensure inclusive access, particularly for underserved groups, including women, persons with disabilities, and returning migrants.

“This administration is committed to building a skilled workforce that can compete globally. These 270 centres will serve as hubs for technical and vocational education and training (TVET), targeting key sectors such as agriculture, ICT, leather works, construction, renewable energy, and creative industries,” the Minister stated during a press briefing in Abuja.

Each centre will be equipped with modern tools, certified instructors, and digital learning platforms to support both in-person and blended learning models. The government plans to partner with state governments, private sector organizations, and international development agencies to ensure sustainability, standardisation, and relevance of training programmes.

The vocational centres are projected to train over 500,000 Nigerian youths annually, contributing directly to national productivity and reducing dependency on white-collar jobs. Graduates of the programmes will also have access to start-up kits, mentorship, and funding opportunities through government empowerment schemes and microfinance institutions.

Stakeholders have hailed the move as a bold and strategic intervention in Nigeria’s workforce development agenda. Educationists, industry leaders, and youth-focused civil society organisations have expressed optimism that the centres will not only provide jobs but also stimulate innovation and entrepreneurship among the youth.

The project is expected to roll out in phases beginning Q3 2025, with the first set of centres to be completed in 18 pilot states by early 2026.