The Federal Government has flagged off training for over 1,000 beneficiaries under Cohort 3 of its Innovation Development and Effectiveness in the Acquisition of Skills (IDEAS-TVET) initiative in Kogi State. The programme, implemented by the Federal Ministry of Education with support from the World Bank, aims to equip Nigerians with industry-relevant vocational, technical, and digital skills. The initiative is being carried out through accredited Training Service Providers (TSPs) nationwide, with monitoring across the 774 Local Government Areas (LGAs).
The flag-off ceremony, held in Lokoja, featured 10 service providers operating from 10 skills acquisition centres across Kogi State. These providers include Leafnet Enterprise Ltd, Omniflow Power Ltd, Peemadi Ltd, and Ugbo-Ugbo Enyo Nig Ltd, among others. The trainees in Kogi are being equipped with skills in various areas, including Fashion Design and Garment Making, Solar PV Installation and Maintenance, and Catering and Event Management.
The National Project Coordinator, Mrs. Blessing Ogwu, stated that the objective of the initiative is to equip Nigerians with industry-relevant vocational, technical, and digital skills, reduce reliance on paper qualifications, and build a workforce for economic transformation. She disclosed that the project has renovated and equipped workshops across technical colleges, strengthened TVET institutions, and upskilled about 4,000 technical teachers and instructors.
According to Mrs. Ogwu, the project has taken skills development directly to about 80,000 Nigerians through Training Service Providers across the country. The occupational areas covered include fashion design, ICT, agriculture, hospitality, construction, electrical installation, automotive trades, welding and fabrication, plumbing, solar installation, and other market-relevant skills, with inclusion of women and other underrepresented groups.
Mrs. Ogwu charged trainees to see themselves not merely as beneficiaries but as future entrepreneurs, technicians, and innovators. She emphasized that success would be measured by employment, businesses established, and incomes increased, not just enrolment figures. She also urged trainees to take attendance seriously, as regular attendance ensures they receive sufficient practical exposure and develop competence.
The service providers have commended the level of supervision and commitment of trainees, with some reporting that they are already three months into the six-month training. Mr. Ajayi Olufemi, Centre Manager, Memorial Foundation Chateko Vocational Institute (LMF-CVI), Leafnet Enterprise Ltd, reported that 150 trainees are under his centre in fashion design and garment making, and some have already made dresses by themselves within three months.
Government officials have urged beneficiaries to be diligent, noting that certifications are recognised by professional bodies and the focus should be beyond the stipend to what they will take back after training. They commended the Kogi coordinators and service providers for excellent performance and high attendance recorded across centres. The trainees have expressed satisfaction with the programme, with one trainee, Miss Josephine David, stating that her experience has been wonderful and she has added value to herself thanks to IDEAS-TVET.
Key points
- The Federal Government has launched training for over 1,000 beneficiaries under Cohort 3 of its Innovation Development and Effectiveness in the Acquisition of Skills (IDEAS-TVET) initiative in Kogi State.
- The programme aims to equip Nigerians with industry-relevant vocational, technical, and digital skills, reduce reliance on paper qualifications, and build a workforce for economic transformation.
- The initiative has taken skills development directly to about 80,000 Nigerians through Training Service Providers across the country.
