Development partners have pledged support for the Federal Government’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) initiative aimed at equipping young Nigerians with industry-relevant skills to tackle unemployment.
The commitment was made during the TVET Conference held in Lagos, where stakeholders emphasized the need for skills acquisition to address unemployment and boost economic growth.
Speaking at the conference, the Programme Manager, Disengagement, Dissociation, Reintegration and Reconciliation at the International Organization for Migration (IOM), Mr. Diamondé Seve, commended the Federal Government for prioritizing skills development among Nigerian youths.
Mr. Seve reaffirmed IOM’s commitment to continued collaboration and partnership to bridge unemployment gaps and discourage irregular migration.
Also speaking, the Consul General of Germany in Lagos, Mr. Daniel Krull, praised the Federal Government for taking steps to engage young people with employable skills.
He encouraged stakeholders to strengthen public-private sector partnerships and improve policy and governance within the TVET system.
On her part, the Consulate General of Switzerland, Ms. Conny Cammezind, described the conference as timely, noting that countries across the world are currently facing major transformations driven by technological advancement, demographic shifts, climate change, and evolving labour market demands.
She said these changes continue to reshape economies and redefine the future of work globally.
The Head of Cooperation at the European Union Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Mr. Massimo De Luca, said the EU remains committed to supporting development strategies and investments in TVET, describing vocational education as central to the European Union’s growth agenda.
Other partners that pledged support for the initiative include the French Government and the Agence Française de Développement (AFD).
The three-day conference, which ends tomorrow, has as its theme: “Harnessing TVET as a Pathway to Employment: Building a System for Employability, Inclusion and Green Growth in Nigeria.
Written by Bukola Abe