Olawunmi Ajibike
Vice President Kashim Shettima has declared an end to fragmented and uncoordinated skills development programmes, unveiling a new direction aimed at aligning training with real economic needs.
Speaking at the opening of the National Skills and Industry Alignment Roundtable Series in Abuja on Tuesday, the Vice President outlined a vision for a unified national system where technical training directly translates into sustainable employment and economic growth.
Represented by the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia, Shettima noted that Nigeria’s major challenge is not a shortage of talent, but a persistent disconnect between the skills produced by institutions and the actual demands of the labour market.
He observed that although millions of young Nigerians enter the workforce each year, many are absorbed into informal and unstable jobs that contribute little to national productivity.
To address the gap, the administration is mobilising global development partners, including the European Union, to move beyond policy discussions toward concrete, industry-led solutions.
Shettima stressed that job creation cannot rest solely on government efforts, urging the private sector to take a more active role as co-creators of the workforce by clearly defining the skills and competencies they require.
Supporting this approach, the EU’s Head of Cooperation, Massimo De Luca, said ongoing initiatives such as the 3MTT programme are being integrated into a broader production system to ensure that skills are developed precisely where they are needed.