Katsinatimes
The Federal Government has commenced a 10-day "Train the Trainer" programme for instructors in Federal Technical Colleges as part of efforts to strengthen Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and expand the country's skilled workforce.
The training, organised by the Federal Ministry of Education in collaboration with the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), began on Monday in Abuja.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, the National Project Coordinator of the Special Programmes Operations and Implementation Unit (SPOIU) in the Office of the Minister of Education, Mr Adebayo Onigbanjo, said the programme was designed to build the capacity of instructors who would, in turn, train other educators in their respective institutions.
According to him, participants will be equipped with modern teaching methodologies, competency-based assessment techniques and practical skills delivery to enhance students' employability and workforce readiness.
Onigbanjo explained that the initiative became necessary following the overwhelming response to the Federal Government's TVET programme launched in 2025, which attracted about 1.3 million registrations nationwide.
He said the demand underscored the need to increase the number of qualified instructors capable of delivering quality technical and vocational education across the country.
"The ultimate goal is to expand our training capacity. Last year, when the TVET programme was introduced, about 1.3 million Nigerians registered to acquire technical skills. To meet that demand, we must also train more instructors.
"The expectation is that participants will return to their institutions and transfer the knowledge acquired to their colleagues, thereby multiplying the country's training capacity," he said.
Onigbanjo disclosed that the first phase of the programme would train 60 instructors over 10 days in Abuja, while another batch of 60 participants would undergo similar training in Lagos in October.
He noted that all participants were drawn from Federal Technical Colleges across Nigeria and were already familiar with the existing curriculum.
Also speaking, the Programme Lead and Technical Assistant to the Minister of Education, Ms Nabila Muhammad, said the training was aimed at strengthening instructors' competence in competency-based teaching, with greater emphasis on practical skills acquisition.
She explained that the programme would help educators shift from theory-based instruction to practical, industry-oriented learning capable of producing graduates with skills required in the labour market.
"Our expectation is that participants will leave this programme with improved teaching methods that prioritise practical competencies and better prepare students for employment and entrepreneurship," she said.
A Singaporean facilitator from ITE Education Services (ITEES), Ms Choo Lian, said the programme would expose participants to globally recognised teaching approaches used in Singapore's technical education system.
According to her, the training focuses on practical demonstration techniques, learner participation, constructive feedback and competency-based assessment aligned with industry standards.
"We are not teaching specific trades. Rather, we are equipping instructors with the pedagogical skills needed to effectively teach their various technical specialisations and assess students based on industry performance standards," she explained.
One of the participants, Mr Adegoke Odebode, Assistant Director of Education at the Federal Technical College, Ijebu-Mushin, described the programme as timely and impactful.
He expressed confidence that the knowledge and skills acquired would enhance the quality of technical instruction and contribute significantly to improving technical and vocational education in Nigeria.
(NAN)
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