The Federal Government has urged state governments to fully implement the National Policy on Skills Development to equip Nigerians with market-ready skills.

At the Northern Region Sensitisation in Kano State, the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmad, said Nigeria’s youth are its greatest asset, but without skills, the nation risks losing its demographic advantage.

Ahmad said states have been given a duration of two to three months to adapt to the policy, set measurable targets and submit strategies.

She said the FG will provide technical guidance via the Office of the Director of Technology & Science Education and also monitor rollout, while progress will be tracked to ensure accountability and results.

Aligned with the Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative (NESRI) of President Bola Tinubu, the policy promotes digital, vocational, and job-specific skills, inclusivity, teacher training and partnerships.

NESRI aims to transform Nigeria’s education system to better equip young people with relevant skills for the 21st century.

It includes initiatives like skills-based education, teacher training, and addressing out-of-school children.

The initiative also focuses on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education and diaspora engagement.
NESRI is actively working on upgrading technical colleges and integrating technology, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), into the curriculum.