Seventy-five beneficiaries have acquired practical skills in beauty and cosmetology under the Federal Government’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training, TVET, programme at Elegant Twins Institute of Cosmetology in Lagos.
The beneficiaries are among participants in the Innovation Development and Effectiveness in Acquisition of Skills, IDEAS, Project, a Federal Government initiative designed to expand access to vocational training, strengthen technical capacity and equip Nigerians with practical skills for employment and entrepreneurship.
The progress of the programme was assessed during a monitoring visit by the National Project Monitoring Officer for TVET and IDEAS in the Office of the Minister of Education, Mr Olatunji Odewunmi, to Elegant Twins Institute of Cosmetology, Surulere, and Federal Technical College (FTC), Yaba, Lagos.
The exercise focused on training delivery, institutional performance, compliance with programme requirements and the progress made by beneficiaries.
The IDEAS Project, supported by the World Bank and implemented through the Federal Ministry of Education, seeks to strengthen Nigeria’s TVET system, improve institutional capacity and develop industry-relevant competencies among young people.
It also complements the government’s broader TVET reform agenda under Pillar One of the National Education Sector Renewal Initiative (NESRI).
Speaking during the visit, Odewunmi commended Elegant Twins Institute for the quality of instruction, practical training and enthusiasm demonstrated by the beneficiaries.
He said the monitoring exercise was intended to ensure that participating centres fulfilled their obligations and that government investments in vocational education translated into measurable outcomes.
Odewunmi disclosed that Lagos State had approximately 128 TVET centres providing opportunities for Nigerians to acquire vocational skills.
He explained that government support under the programme covered essential training requirements, including registration, accommodation and learning materials, while beneficiaries received a monthly stipend of N30,000.
Training service providers also received N50,000 monthly for each trainee to facilitate effective programme delivery.
According to him, the intervention is aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s skilled workforce, developing local technical capacity, reducing dependence on foreign artisans and enabling young people to secure employment or establish sustainable businesses.
At Federal Technical College, Yaba, the IDEAS Project Manager, Abimbola Oyedeji, said the intervention, which commenced about five years ago, had contributed to increased student enrolment and improved practical skills acquisition at the institution.
She identified the supported vocational areas as Blocklaying and Concreting, Tiling, Woodwork, Auto Body Building and Computer Craft, covering practical competencies in block production, tile installation, furniture making, upholstery, carpentry, joinery, panel beating, automobile mechanics, Information and Communication Technology and Robotics Engineering.
Catering Craft is also covered under the programme.
Oyedeji expressed appreciation to the Federal Government for its support in strengthening technical education, improving institutional capacity and providing students with opportunities to acquire skills relevant to the world of work.
At Elegant Twins Institute, the Centre Manager, Kunle Oladunjoye, said the institution was selected as a training service provider to equip 75 beneficiaries with professional skills in beauty and cosmetology.
He described the selection process as transparent and merit-based, involving interviews and verification of applicants’ information.
Oladunjoye said the training was being delivered by qualified professional instructors, including former students with considerable industry experience.
He noted that the beneficiaries had made encouraging progress, demonstrating growing confidence and practical competence needed to establish their own businesses.
He also commended the Federal Government for meeting its financial obligations to the centre and providing monthly stipends to beneficiaries, saying the support had facilitated effective training delivery.
The institute’s founder, Mrs Elizabeth Adebisi Oshisoya, who traced her involvement in cosmetology training to 1950, described the intervention as an important opportunity to expand access to professional vocational skills.
She recalled her longstanding training activities in Ibadan, Ijebu and Calabar, expressing appreciation to the Federal Government for supporting vocational empowerment and self-reliance.
Some beneficiaries also shared their experiences, highlighting the practical knowledge and opportunities the programme had provided.
Abdulhakeem Shamsudeen said he had acquired additional competencies in nail technology and makeup, building on his previous knowledge of the beauty industry.
He confirmed that the training was free and that he received the monthly N30,000 stipend.
Similarly, Omotosho Okwemi commended the government for providing free vocational training and financial support, while Boma Messe-Britz highlighted the practical skills she had acquired in makeup, hairdressing, nail technology and spa services.
The beneficiaries praised their instructors and called for the continuation of the initiative to enable more young Nigerians to benefit.
At Federal Technical College, Yaba, another beneficiary, Leo Uzoma, commended the Federal Government for providing free training and equipment, noting that access to appropriate facilities had improved his practical learning experience.
Oni Oluwada said the programme had broadened his knowledge of electrical installation, particularly basic electrical connections and socket installation.
Another beneficiary, Adebayo Mowufin Oluwada, said the training was helping her strengthen her knowledge of electrical installation in preparation for further studies and a career in electrical engineering.
The monitoring exercise forms part of the Federal Ministry of Education’s efforts to strengthen accountability, quality assurance and effective implementation of its TVET interventions.
Through direct engagement with training providers, instructors and beneficiaries, the ministry seeks to identify implementation gaps, assess training outcomes and ensure that participating institutions comply with established standards.
The government said it would sustain monitoring and evaluation across its TVET programmes to promote accountability, improve delivery and ensure that investments in skills development produce measurable results.
The initiative is expected to contribute to building an inclusive, responsive and skills-driven education system capable of equipping Nigerians with competencies for employment, entrepreneurship and participation in national economic development.
