FG Establishes 270 Vocational Centres to Tackle Youth Unemployment, Drive Entrepreneurship

The Federal Government has revealed the establishment of 270 vocational training centres across Nigeria, a key intervention to boost entrepreneurship and skill acquisition among the country’s growing youth population.

This was made known by the Deputy Executive Secretary (Technical) of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), during a public hearing held in Abuja by the House Committee on Alternative Education. The hearing addressed nine legislative proposals, including bills to set up a National Institute for Technical and Vocational Education in Kalgo, Kebbi State, and two Federal Colleges of Entrepreneurship and Skill Acquisition in Bunza, Kebbi State, and Maiduguri, Borno State.

While praising the legislative push to curb unemployment and encourage innovation, UBEC noted that leveraging and expanding existing institutions might deliver faster and more cost-effective results than building new ones from scratch. The Commission warned that new federal institutions require substantial investment in infrastructure, staffing, and operational costs—an effort that may strain the national budget without sustainable funding.

UBEC emphasized the need for clear governance structures to ensure that any new institutions operate efficiently and accountably. The agency pledged ongoing collaboration with lawmakers and stakeholders to strengthen Nigeria’s education and training ecosystem, noting the importance of defining the roles of federal, state, and local authorities in managing these initiatives.

Support for the bills poured in from representatives of the constituencies where the proposed institutions would be located, who highlighted their expected educational, economic, and developmental impact. A representative of the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children Education also endorsed the proposal, aligning it with broader efforts to reintegrate marginalized youth through learning and skills.

Delivering a keynote address, the Speaker of the House of Representatives stressed the importance of vocational and entrepreneurial training in preparing Nigerian youths for the demands of a changing global economy. He described the initiative as a long-term investment in national development, adding that the House is committed to passing laws that will empower training centres as tools for job creation, innovation, and sustainable economic growth.

He noted that despite the potential of Nigeria’s youthful population and the country’s existing skill development efforts, the outcomes so far have not met expectations—something he hopes this new legislative push will change.