The Federal Government has inaugurated the WorldSkills Nigeria National Team Committee as part of efforts to strengthen skills-based education, Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), youth empowerment, and Nigeria’s competitiveness in the global workforce.
The inauguration took place in Abuja and was presided over by the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, CON, according to a statement issued by the Director of Press and Public Relations of the ministry, Boriowo Folasade. The minister described the event as a historic milestone following Nigeria’s admission into WorldSkills International as its 89th member after more than a decade of sustained engagement.
Dr. Alausa said Nigeria’s overdependence on white-collar education has contributed significantly to unemployment and skills mismatch, noting that countries with sustainable economic growth place strong emphasis on skills development, manufacturing, and infrastructure. He explained that the Federal Government has now repositioned skills development as a core pillar of national growth, with TVET elevated as a first-choice educational pathway for Nigerian youths.
The minister noted that Nigeria’s WorldSkills membership, secured in 2024, was the outcome of years of collaboration involving the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), TVET institutions, industry partners, and other critical stakeholders. He added that WorldSkills Nigeria represents a national commitment to excellence, global benchmarking, and workforce readiness.
According to him, the initiative will enable Nigerian youths to acquire world-class technical skills while enhancing national productivity, innovation, and economic development.
The 15-member committee is chaired by the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Ahmed Said, while the Executive Secretary of NBTE, Prof. Idris Muhammad Bugaje, serves as Vice Chairman.
The Federal Government reaffirmed its full institutional backing for WorldSkills Nigeria, describing it as a flagship programme for youth empowerment, industrial growth, and sustainable national development.
