The North Central Development Commission (NCDC) and the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Zone C, are exploring a partnership to strengthen students' employability and entrepreneurial capacity. The proposed establishment of skills acquisition and entrepreneurship development centres across the North Central region and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) aims to bridge the gap between academic qualifications and practical workplace competencies. This initiative will cover Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger, and Plateau states, as well as the FCT.
The proposal was unveiled at the NANS Zone C Summit in Kwara State, where the NCDC reiterated its commitment to making youth empowerment a central component of its regional development agenda. Comrade Solomon Adodo, NCDC Board Member representing the FCT, disclosed that provisions had been made in the Commission's budget for entrepreneurship training and related interventions. The proposed centres will provide students with opportunities to translate their creative ideas and innovations into viable businesses capable of generating employment and contributing to economic growth.
According to Adodo, university and other tertiary institution students must look beyond academic qualifications and acquire practical skills that would enable them to become employers of labour rather than depend solely on conventional employment opportunities. He stressed that it is time to reverse the old pattern and embrace a new order, ensuring that students' innovations are not left to rot but are given wings to fly and ascend from mere potential to productivity. The establishment of regional development commissions by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu aims to address peculiar development challenges across the country through targeted interventions and stronger engagement with local stakeholders.
Adodo assured NANS that the Commission would maintain an open-door policy and sustain consultations with student representatives to ensure that their needs and aspirations are reflected in its programmes. In his remarks, the NANS Zone C Coordinator, Comrade Abiola Azeez Babatunde Adigun, commended the youth-oriented initiatives of the Tinubu administration under the Renewed Hope Agenda, describing them as encouraging efforts towards economic inclusion and sustainable youth development.
Adigun expressed the association's readiness to work with the NCDC to establish a structured framework for implementing the proposed entrepreneurship and skills development programme. The partnership will prioritise relevant digital, vocational, and technical skills, business development training, and mentorship to prepare students for emerging employment and investment opportunities. The NANS coordinator disclosed that the association would engage the Commission's leadership to identify areas of collaboration and develop an implementation framework.
The proposed partnership reflects growing calls for stronger collaboration between development institutions and student organisations in addressing youth unemployment, skills gaps, and the disconnect between formal education and the demands of the economy. If successfully implemented, the initiative could expand access to practical training, encourage student-led enterprises, and strengthen the contribution of young people to economic development across the North Central region. The programme is expected to have a positive impact on the region's economic growth and development.
The NCDC and NANS partnership is a significant step towards addressing the challenges faced by young people in the North Central region. By providing students with the necessary skills and support, the initiative aims to empower them to become employers of labour and contribute to the region's economic growth. The programme's success will depend on the effective implementation of the proposed entrepreneurship and skills development centres, as well as the sustained collaboration between the NCDC and NANS.
Key points
- The NCDC and NANS are partnering to establish regional entrepreneurship centres to enhance students' employability and entrepreneurial capacity.
- The proposed centres will provide students with digital, vocational, and technical training, business development support, and mentorship opportunities.
- The initiative aims to bridge the gap between academic qualifications and practical workplace competencies, and contribute to economic growth across the North Central region.
