The Industrial Training Fund (ITF) and the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) are seeking increased government and private-sector funding for technical and vocational education, citing the employment and entrepreneurship outcomes of their joint training programme.
The organisations say additional investment would help expand training opportunities, improve access to equipment and enable more young Nigerians to turn practical skills into sustainable livelihoods.
According to the official website of the ITF-NECA Technical Skills Development Project (TSDP), the initiative has operated since March 31, 2009, to bridge skills gaps in the labour market and provide industries with qualified technical workers.
The project’s website reports that 90% of its graduates have secured jobs or established businesses. It also states that the programme has empowered more than 120,000 young people and students across 35 trade areas, with over 87 organisations participating.
The figures are reported by the programme itself and have not been independently audited for this report.
In its project overview, NECA explains that the initiative combines classroom instruction, practical training, industrial attachment and entrepreneurship development to prepare participants for employment and self-employment.
The association’s published account also identifies inadequate funding, the high cost of technical training, infrastructure deficits and the number of unemployed young people the programme cannot accommodate as major challenges.
The ITF-NECA project is therefore calling for stronger policy and financial support to expand its reach and improve its contribution to job creation, according to its official website.
The organisations are also advocating greater support for graduates who want to establish businesses, including access to tools, equipment, shared facilities and start-up assistance. They argue that training alone may not translate into income where graduates lack the resources to begin operating.
The initiative also aims to widen access to technical and vocational education for women, persons with disabilities and young people facing economic barriers.
The funding appeal comes as the Federal Government expands its own technical and vocational education and training programme.
In a report published on October 21, 2026, BusinessDay reported that Education Minister Maruf Tunji Alausa said nearly 250,000 Nigerians were undergoing vocational training at more than 1,200 accredited centres, while applications for the government programme had reached almost 1.4 million within two weeks.
According to the same report, the government provides monthly stipends of ₦30,000 to trainees and ₦50,000 per student to accredited training centres.
The government’s TVET programme is separate from the ITF-NECA partnership, although both initiatives seek to improve access to practical skills and employment opportunities.
The ITF-NECA project’s published objectives include expanding technical training, strengthening industry participation and supporting entrepreneurship.
The organisations’ appeal underscores the need to connect skills acquisition with opportunities to earn a living, particularly for young Nigerians who lack access to formal employment or the capital needed to start businesses.
