Vice President Kashim Shettima has urged the National Council on Skills (NCS) to ensure that “Made in Nigeria” becomes a mark of global quality and competitiveness.
Chairing the council’s eighth meeting at the Presidential Villa on Thursday, Mr Shettima said Nigeria’s push towards industrial growth must be driven by the creativity and ingenuity found across its classrooms, workshops and informal sectors.
A key part of the discussion centred on Nigeria’s preparations for the 48th WorldSkills Competition in Shanghai, China.
As plans advance to inaugurate the National Working Committee for WorldSkills Nigeria, he stressed that the initiative goes beyond participation in a single event.
He said it represents an opportunity to position Nigerian talent on the global stage — from tech innovators in Lagos to skilled manufacturers in Nnewi and climate-smart farmers in Benue.
“Our goal is to ensure that Made in Nigeria becomes synonymous with world-class,” he said.
“We owe our people a future where their skills serve as a pathway to prosperity.”
Mr Shettima also highlighted the importance of strong institutional coordination in achieving the human capital development targets of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
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He described the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) and the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) as “two gears of a single engine”, stressing that both institutions must work closely to deliver results.
According to him, meaningful collaboration between federal and state governments, alongside the private sector, remains essential to creating jobs and restoring public confidence.
The council reviewed a proposal by Dangote Industries to introduce a one-month “train-the-trainer” programme aimed at equipping 100 participants with in-demand technical skills.
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The training is expected to cover areas such as industrial mechanics and electronics, instrumentation, welding and fabrication, as well as the operation of heavy-duty earth-moving equipment.
Members of the council welcomed the initiative and requested periodic updates, describing it as a strong example of how private sector partnerships can support national development.
The meeting brought together senior government officials and stakeholders, including Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani, Minister of Education Tunji Alausa, Minister of Budget and Economic Planning Atiku Bagudu, Minister of State for Industry John Owan Enoh, and Minister of Housing Ahmed Musa Dangiwa.
Others in attendance included the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia, as well as representatives of the Dangote Foundation.
