TVET, digital skills, apprenticeships take centre stage at UK-Nigeria meeting
By Uji A Iliyasu Abuja
The Federal Government has deepened its education and skills partnership with the United Kingdom to better prepare Nigerian youths for global job opportunities, with Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), digital skills development, and industry-led apprenticeship programmes taking centre stage.
Minister of Education Tunji Alausa announced this following a bilateral meeting with Baroness Smith, Minister of State for Skills, on the sidelines of the 2026 Education World Forum in London, according to a statement by Ikharo Attah, Special Adviser (Media & Communications) to the Minister.
The talks centred on expanding practical cooperation in skills development, TVET reform, digital learning, and workforce readiness, building on earlier engagements with UK International Education Champion Sir Steve Smith.
Reaffirming the Tinubu administration’s commitment to repositioning TVET as a driver of employment, industrial growth, and national productivity, Dr. Alausa said the Federal Ministry of Education is aligning its reforms directly with labour market realities.
He identified clean energy, healthcare, engineering, digital technology, and artificial intelligence as priority sectors central to Nigeria’s economic transformation agenda.
The Minister outlined a modern skills framework anchored on quality assurance, stronger industry participation, globally recognised accreditation, and structured apprenticeship pathways designed to meet present and future workforce demands.
He also highlighted expanding collaboration between Nigeria and the UK involving Federal Technical Colleges, the National Board for Technical Education, IQM, and other key agencies, covering joint curriculum development, staff exchange programmes, accreditation alignment, and skills-matching initiatives.
Both countries agreed on plans for UK skills institutions to visit Nigeria to co-develop programmes in clean energy, health services, engineering, and digital and artificial intelligence fields.
Discussions also advanced on apprenticeship models that better align training outcomes with industry demand while upholding quality standards, drawing lessons from ongoing reforms under Skills England.
On global education financing, Dr. Alausa, serving as a member of the Global Partnership for Education Board, called for sustained UK support for the GPE 2026–2030 Replenishment Campaign. Nigeria will co-host the campaign alongside Italy at the United Nations General Assembly in New York in September 2026.
In response, Baroness Smith commended Nigeria’s education reforms, welcomed deeper bilateral cooperation in skills development, and pledged to advocate for continued UK support ahead of the September replenishment campaign.
The engagement reinforces the Federal Government’s resolve to build a globally competitive skills ecosystem that expands opportunities for young Nigerians while strengthening the country’s standing in the global workforce.