The Tertiary Education Trust Fund, TETFund, and the Nigerian Academy of Engineering, NAEng, have forged a landmark partnership to address critical gaps in technical and vocational skill.
The partnership, which was climaxed in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, in Abuja on Monday, aims to revitalize Nigeria’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training, TVET, sector, long plagued by outdated infrastructure, insufficient staffing, and misaligned curricula.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, TETFund Executive Secretary, Arc. Sonny Echono, emphasized the urgency of moving beyond rhetoric to action.
“Our polytechnics, intended to drive TVET, often offer irrelevant courses and rely on obsolete equipment.
“Many lack qualified technical staff, stable power, or functional workshops. This partnership is a blueprint to reverse decades of neglect,” he said.
He further stated that the initiative seeks to align Nigeria’s educational institutions with industry needs, targeting shortages of skilled technicians and artisans—a gap that has hindered economic growth and innovation.
Echono acknowledged public criticism of Nigeria’s slow progress in technical education, vowing to “counter skepticism with tangible results” through collaboration with policymakers, educators, and industry leaders.
On his part, NAEng President, Engr. Rahamon Bello, highlighted the “inverted pyramid” in Nigeria’s engineering workforce, where professionals outnumber urgently needed technicians.
Bello cited the federal government’s recent National Skills Qualification Framework, NSQF, which standardizes vocational certifications, as a step toward rebalancing the sector.
“This MoU accelerates efforts to produce a skilled workforce capable of sustaining industrial development,” he stated.
Also speaking, the Nigerian Society of Engineers, NSE, President, Engr. Margaret Oguntala, called the agreement “long overdue,” stressing that engineering and technical education are foundational to national progress.
“TVET is central to our strategic agenda. This pact will mobilize expertise to cultivate a new generation of technicians critical for infrastructure, manufacturing, and technology sectors,” she said.
The partnership will focus on modernizing TVET curricula, upgrading facilities, and fostering public-private collaborations. TETFund has pledged to prioritize funding for technical institutions, while NAEng and NSE will contribute expertise to align training with global standards.
