The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to prioritising skills development as a key driver of job creation, economic growth and national competitiveness.
The Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Muhammed Dingyadi, stated this at the 2026 World Youth Skills Day celebration in Abuja, themed, “Skills for a Shared Future”.
Represented by the Director of Skills Development and Certification, Dr Tiza Shaakaa, Dingyadi said investment in youth skills was critical to building an inclusive and sustainable future.
He noted that technological advancement, digitalisation, artificial intelligence, automation and climate change were reshaping the labour market, requiring young Nigerians to acquire digital, green and entrepreneurial skills.
According to him, the revised National Employment Policy, strengthened Job Centres and Migrant Resource Centres will support employment creation and improve access to labour market opportunities.
Dingyadi stressed that skills development must align with industry needs and urged employers to support apprenticeships, internships and workplace learning opportunities.
Also speaking, President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, said skills development remained essential for promoting decent work and shared prosperity, while emphasising that skills acquisition must be matched with job opportunities.
The Director-General of the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), Adewale-Smatt Oyerinde, said employers were committed to preparing young Nigerians for the future of work through technical, vocational and digital skills development programmes.
He added that NECA had supported youth training in areas such as virtual reality, 3D animation and data analytics to enhance competitiveness in the digital economy.
