Ishk Tolaram Foundation has trained 276 youths in technical and vocational skills to bridge the knowledge gap in the industry thereby boosting employability.

The students were trained in fashion designing, carpentry and furniture, masonry and tiling, solar installation. and more.

This was disclosed at the Ishk Graduation and Skilling Conference 2025, tagged: ‘Fragmentation to synergy: Strengthening Collaboration in TVET and Employment Creation,’ held in Lagos.

The Programme Director, Oje Ivagba, stressed the need for the Private and Public Sectors to synergise in the skill development of the youths, noting that working in isolation would bring minimal impact in the youth employment bid.

Ivagba stated that the training journey is designed to empower the students by developing their personal, technical, and entrepreneurial skills, enabling them to enter the workforce or start their own businesses confidently.

He added that the aim is to provide career advancement support and fosters a strong alumni community through ongoing development and resource access.

He said: “The Ishk Graduation & Skilling Conference is a platform for driving twofold agendas: celebrating the resilience of young people in acquiring vocational skills and their journey to decent employment, and convening key actors and stakeholders who are pivotal to strengthening TVET outcomes in Nigeria.

“Now in its third year, the conference has become a pivotal gathering in Nigeria’s TVET landscape, bringing together policymakers, industry leaders, training providers, and youth advocates to unlock stronger pathways to employment and entrepreneurship for young Nigerians.

“There is a need to chart a path from fragmentation to synergy, building a more integrated, responsive, and impactful TVET system that enhances workforce readiness and drives employment creation.”

Also speaking, Ishk Tolaram foundation Programme Manager, Abiola Oyeneye, stressed the need to enhance collaboration between the public and private sectors to advance TVET and employment creation.

“We need to work together to accelerate the growth of youth employment in Nigeria. TVET has the potential to provide an alternate pathway for people to transition to employment, especially in industries such as construction, fashion, and manufacturing.”

He added that the programme was designed to address the issue of unemployment among young people, where millions of graduates are produced every year, but the white-collar job market cannot absorb all of them, adding that vocational skilling provides a viable solution to this problem.