A Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) coordinator, Mr Innocent Ihejirika, has called for demand-driven skills training as part of efforts to tackle youth unemployment in Nigeria.
Ihejirika, in an interview on Wednesday in Abuja, said Nigeria needed to shift from generic vocational curricula to short-cycle, industry-driven programmes that equip young people with practical skills for immediate employment.
He recommended six- to 12-week micro-credential programmes in areas such as solar installation, refrigeration and air-conditioning repairs, welding and fashion technology.
Ihejirika also called for public-private apprenticeship partnerships that would enable manufacturers and artisans to jointly design training programmes and absorb qualified graduates.
“The goal should be to enable young people to earn while they learn, rather than keeping them in rigid, multi-year programs,” he said.
He advocated the establishment of digital skills hubs in TVET centers to prepare young people for remote jobs in data entry, virtual assistance, graphic design, customer support and basic coding.
According to him, subsidized internet access and co-working spaces in underserved communities would make remote work more accessible to youths who lack the resources to work independently.
He also recommended partnerships with freelance platforms to support onboarding and portfolio development, stressing that communication, English proficiency, and digital work readiness should be integrated into technical training.
Ihejirika urged institutions to include financial literacy and business management in vocational programmes to help graduates transition from training to sustainable livelihoods.
He proposed micro-grants and equipment-leasing schemes tied to graduation, saying the lack of start-up tools remained a major obstacle for trained youths seeking to establish businesses.
He further recommended cooperative models through which graduates could share workshops and equipment, reducing the cost of starting businesses individually.
The coordinator said mentorship programmes involving groups such as the Nigerian Association of Small and Medium Enterprises and Nigerian Association of Small Scale Industrialists could help young entrepreneurs gain market access and build sustainable businesses.
He also advocated Recognition of Prior Learning to certify informal artisans, including mechanics, tailors and hairdressers, and enable them to access formal contracts and credit.
Ihejirika identified green skills, including solar technology, waste recycling, and electric mobility maintenance, as emerging areas with opportunities for employment and entrepreneurship.
He called for stronger integration of state-level TVET programmes with the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and the National Directorate of Employment (NDE).
He suggested that corps members and job seekers could be enrolled in short technical boot camps to acquire practical skills aligned with labour market needs.
Ihejirika stressed the importance of labour market data in keeping training programmes aligned with changing industry demands.
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He also called for targeted outreach to increase young women’s participation in technical trades.
According to him, Nigeria could leverage its technology and business diaspora as sources of remote employment opportunities, trainers and virtual mentors for young people seeking to enter the digital economy.
 coordinator, Mr Innocent Ihejirika, has called for demand-driven skills training as part of efforts to tackle youth unemployment in Nigeria.){kind=link}