Nigeria’s Ministry of Housing and Urban Development and Polaris Capital Limited has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to kick-start the National Artisan Skills Acquisition Programme (NASAP).
This is with the aim of strengthening the technical capacity in the housing and construction sector, creating sustainable employment pathways for Nigerian youth and artisans.
The National Artisan Skills Acquisition Programme (NASAP), a human capacity development project, is to address the ongoing shortage of qualified and certified artisan’s in the housing and construction sector.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, the Chief Executive Officer Polaris Capital Limited, Mr. Kelvin Vihishima said the strategic partnership is a positive initiative aimed at reducing the skills gap in the Nigerian economy.
“The project will be the shortest route to artisan qualification and market access as it will enable us to train and certify many unemployed young Nigerians while we also up the skill of the existing artisans to place them in a sustainable and visible database. The NASAP project is an urgent necessity to develop and promote the utilization of our in country skills instead of outsourcing from neighbouring countries”, he said
Mr. Vihishima, while emphasising on his organization’s mandate being hinged on three pillars which is to train, certify and onboard qualified artisans to grant them access to the market, added that the project will reassure sufficiency and encourage National competitiveness.
“The project aligns with the presidential vision to reduce youth unemployment, elevate construction quality, and train 100,000 artisans nationwide in critical housing and infrastructure trades. Hence, the Ministry and project becomes one of the focal parastatal to successfully push and reach the goals of this administration.”
On his part , the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, Dr. Shuaib Belgore, explained that the Ministry, under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, is set to embark on the transformative initiative to bridge the nation’s artisan skills gap and modernize the construction workforce.
“Today’s signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Polaris Capital Limited marks a milestone in the launch of the National Artisan Skills Acquisition Programme (NASAP),” he said
He outlined some of the objectives of the programme to include : “Promoting inclusivity by ensuring participation of women, youth, and persons with disabilities; as well as leveraging technology through a national booking and verification system for artisans,” he said
According to him, the initiative is structured around a three-year programme with funding from federal budget allocations, private sector participation, and donor contributions, adding that the digital platform would generate revenue to ensure sustainability of the programme beyond the MoU period.
Also speaking, the Director, Federal Public Asset Maintenance (FPAM) Department, Ibechile Egwudale said that the signing of the MoU underscores the Ministry’s commitment to skills development, job creation, and sustainable urban growth, anchored on accountability, inclusivity and long-term economic impact.
The National Artisan Skills Acquisition Programme (NASAP) is a nationwide intervention programme designed to train, certify, and digitally connect 100,000 artisans in priority construction trades to job opportunities across Nigeria.
