The National Centre for Technology Management (NACETEM) has announced a countrywide programme to train one million Nigerians over five years in critical skills for socio-economic development.
Specifically, the agency said the training would focus on technology management, innovation systems, and entrepreneurship.
Director General/Chief Executive of NACETEM, Dr. Olushola Odusanya, stated this in an interactive session with reporters in Abuja.
According to him, the initiative is designed to equip young people with the competencies needed to thrive in an increasingly knowledge-driven economy.
Dr Odusanya noted that Nigeria cannot achieve sustainable development without deliberately investing in human capital and strengthening its capacity for research, innovation, and technology deployment. “Our goal is to build a critical mass of skilled Nigerians who can drive productivity, support industrial growth, and contribute meaningfully to national competitiveness,” he said.
The Director General said another flagship initiative of the Centre is its Welders’ Training and Certification Programme, designed to address the acute shortage of certified technical professionals in the country.
He explained that welding remains a critical skill across key sectors such as construction, oil and gas, manufacturing, and infrastructure development, yet many artisans lack formal certification that meets global industry standards.
According to him, the programme aims not only to upgrade the technical competence of local welders but also to enhance their employability both within Nigeria and internationally.
He added that by scaling up welding certification, the Centre hopes to support ongoing national infrastructure projects, reduce dependence on foreign technical labour and create new income opportunities for thousands of skilled artisans across the country.
“Partnerships to train and certify welders — including underwater welding — to meet high-demand needs in oil, gas, and marine sectors. This targets human capital development, industrial competitiveness, and technology transfer, reducing reliance on expatriate expertise,” he said.
He underscored the importance of collaboration with international partners to bring technology solutions and capacity development to the country.
He noted that in an increasingly interconnected world, nations that fail to leverage global expertise risk falling behind in innovation, service delivery, and human capital advancement. According to him, forging strong partnerships with reputable international organisations would not only accelerate the transfer of technical knowledge but also help Nigeria adopt global best practices across critical sectors.
He further explained that such collaborations could open doors for joint research initiatives, specialised training programmes, and technology-driven reforms that would strengthen institutions and improve governance.
The NACETEM DG also highlighted the importance of benchmarking educational policies against international standards, the need for more science-based training in schools to prepare students for high-income careers, even as he decried the shortage of Physics teachers and the need for special programmes to accelerate their production.
