FG ends rivalry between ITF and NBTE over skills development
The Federal Government has resolved the long-standing conflict between the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) and the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) regarding the regulation of Nigeria’s skills development system. The new governance framework clearly separates the responsibilities of both agencies, aiming to create a more coordinated national skills ecosystem. Prof. Idris Bugaje and Afiz Ogun announced the breakthrough at a joint media briefing, describing it as a significant achievement for technical education in Nigeria. The reforms are expected to improve coordination, reduce duplication, and boost the country’s skilled workforce.
What we know
- The administration of the Nigerian Skills Qualification Framework, the Secretariat of the National Council on Skills, and the Secretariat of WorldSkills Nigeria have been transferred to the ITF.
- The NBTE will now focus exclusively on regulating formal technical and vocational education institutions.
- The ITF will establish and operate the WorldSkills Academy in Abuja to provide advanced training for instructors and master craftsmen.
- Skills certification will now include both the Nigerian Skills Qualification Certification and international certification, allowing trainees to compete locally and abroad.
- The reforms are part of President Bola Tinubu’s economic agenda to organise Nigeria’s skills ecosystem and reduce reliance on foreign skilled workers.
