The inclusion of 15 vocational skills into the curricula of primary and secondary schools will boost employment, the Director General (DG) of the National Directorate of Employment (NDE), Silas Agara, has said.
 
Speaking on the initiative in Abuja, the NDE boss explained that the initiative will lay the necessary background and experience needed to embark on endeavours that can create jobs at an early stage.
 
He described the policy as a ‘pragmatic and far-reaching component’ of the Renewed Hope Agenda.   He said President Bola Tinubu’s endorsement of the initiative highlights a commitment to addressing unemployment, non-productivity, and youth restiveness in a nation with one of the world’s largest youth populations.
 
The NDE DG also emphasised that the policy reflects Tinubu’s goal to foster a generation of skilled, focused, and empowered young Nigerians who are equipped to impact their world.
 
Agara explained that the new curriculum overhaul is part of a comprehensive strategy of the current administration to create jobs, boost productivity, and drive economic growth, saying the strategy includes initiatives across various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
 
He added: “At the NDE, we are implementing practical steps to fulfil our mandate, especially with President Tinubu’s active focus on youth issues. It is encouraging that the government has introduced 15 core skills into the nine-year basic education curriculum for public and private schools nationwide.”
 
He further explained that by embedding the chosen 15 skills in the curriculum, the administration prioritizes early skill acquisition to empower the country’s youth to contribute to national productivity through self-employment and the creation of goods and services.
 
“This is why the Federal Government is building 91 vocational schools within secondary schools, 24 skill and vocational hubs in polytechnics, and establishing entrepreneurship centres in universities nationwide as part of efforts to promote skills, technology, and vocational education for job creation,” he added.
 
Agara stated that the NDE is examining the new policy to integrate it with its ongoing interventions, ensuring Nigerians are prepared for gainful employment opportunities.
 
He highlighted the inclusion of agriculture and food processing, such as crop production, beekeeping, horticulture, and poultry production, as part of the vocational skills that are vital to Nigeria’s food security and food sufficiency.