The Federal Government has commenced a nationwide capacity-building programme for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) instructors in partnership with the Institute of Education, Singapore, as part of efforts to strengthen technical education and produce a highly skilled workforce for national development.

The initiative, tagged “Train the Trainers (Pedagogy & Assessment) Programme,” is a 10-day intensive training jointly organised by the Federal Ministry of Education, the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), and the Institute of Education, Singapore.

The programme is being implemented in two phases, with the first cohort of 60 TVET instructors from federal and state institutions currently undergoing training in Abuja, while another 60 participants will undertake the exercise in Lagos.

Speaking during the programme in Abuja, the National Coordinator of Special Programmes in the Office of the Minister of Education, Adebayo Onigbanjo, said the training is designed to equip instructors with modern pedagogical and assessment skills that will improve the quality of technical education across Nigeria.

According to him, participants will adopt a cascading training model, where they will return to their respective institutions to train fellow educators, thereby expanding the pool of competent TVET instructors nationwide.

He noted that the initiative aligns with the Federal Government’s commitment to reposition technical education as a catalyst for industrialisation, economic growth and job creation.

Onigbanjo disclosed that more than 1.3 million Nigerians registered for technical skills training when the programme was launched last year, highlighting the urgent need to increase the number of qualified instructors.

“We are working with the Institute of Technical Education Services in Singapore to develop capacity for TVET in Nigeria. This training focuses on pedagogy and assessment, equipping teachers with the best methods for technical instruction,” he said.

He expressed confidence that the programme would create a multiplier effect as trained instructors transfer their knowledge to colleagues, ultimately improving learning outcomes for thousands of students across the country.

Also speaking, the Technical Assistant to the Minister of Education on TVET, Dr Nabila Mohamed, said the initiative seeks to transform technical education by shifting from theory-driven instruction to competency-based practical learning.

She explained that participants are being introduced to modern teaching methodologies that will better prepare students for employment and industry demands.

“The biggest takeaway is making training competency-based. Rather than focusing mainly on theory, teachers will integrate practical skills that prepare students for employment while learning effective methods of delivering those skills,” she said.

Representing Singapore’s Institute of Technical Education Services, Academic Pedagogy Programme Manager Choo Poh Lian explained that the programme focuses on improving instructional techniques rather than teaching specific vocational trades.

She said participants are learning practical demonstration methods, student engagement strategies, effective feedback mechanisms and competency-based assessment techniques aligned with international industry standards.

“We are sharing how Singapore teaches practical skills so that graduates become workplace-ready. We are focusing on pedagogy—how teachers demonstrate, guide students through practical tasks, provide constructive feedback and assess competencies based on industry performance criteria,” she said.

One of the participants, Odebode Adegoke of the Federal Science and Technical College, Ijebu-Imushin, Ogun State, described the training as timely and transformative.

He said the exposure to Singapore’s globally acclaimed TVET model had broadened participants’ understanding of competency-based instruction and practical assessment, adding that the knowledge gained would significantly improve teaching and learning in technical institutions.

The training programme, which runs from June 29 to July 10, represents another milestone in the Federal Government’s ongoing efforts to reposition Technical and Vocational Education and Training as a major driver of job creation, industrial development and sustainable economic growth in Nigeria.