The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Education and the Kano State Government, has launched a two-day capacity-building workshop for stakeholders in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) under the Better Education for Africa’s Rise (BEAR) III Project.
The workshop, themed “Promoting and Supporting Better TVET Systems in West Africa: Strategic Planning in TVET,” opened on Monday in Kano and brought together participants from regulatory agencies, TVET institutions, and the private sector across Nigeria.
Head of UNESCO’s Abuja Office and Representative to Nigeria, Mr. Mendy Albert—represented by Mr. Manish Joshi—described the workshop as timely, noting that TVET remains a national priority with enormous potential to drive youth empowerment and economic development.
He commended participants for successfully completing the 10-week online training launched in July, which laid the groundwork for the in-person sessions.
“You have been carefully selected to serve as force multipliers, tasked with cascading the knowledge gained here to your respective institutions,” he said, while appreciating the Republic of Korea for financing the BEAR III Project across West Africa.
Director of Technology and Science Education, Federal Ministry of Education, Dr. Muhibat Adeleke Olodo—represented by Dr. Stella Uluegbu—explained that the BEAR III initiative aligns with Nigeria’s ongoing TVET reform agenda.
She disclosed that over one million Nigerians have already enrolled under the framework, with verification underway ahead of full-scale training.
“At the Federal Technical Colleges, over 15,000 students will be resuming this weekend,” she said, adding that the reforms are beginning to yield positive results.
Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), Professor Idris Bugaje, represented by Dr. Babangida Abubakar, highlighted NBTE’s role in curriculum development, accreditation, and quality assurance.
He praised UNESCO for its collaboration in strengthening Nigeria’s TVET delivery to meet global standards.
The workshop features situational analyses, peer learning sessions, panel discussions on green and digital transitions in TVET, and practical exercises on institutional strategic planning. Its outcomes are expected to boost the capacity of TVET institutions to align programmes with labour market demands, enhance youth employability, and foster self-reliance.
