By Mnena Iyorkegh and Saleem Kankimes
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has reiterated its commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s technical and vocational education to enhance inclusive and sustainable growth in the country.
The Head of the Office, UNESCO Abuja, Jean-Paul Ngome-Abyaga, said this at the Nigeria Peace Education Initiative National Stakeholders Consultative Meeting in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.
Jean-Paul Ngome-Abyaga, who was represented by the Regional Education Advisor and Head of Education Sector, UNESCO, Mr. Albert Mendy, underscored the critical role of skills development in driving sustainable national growth and competitiveness.
“This training marks another important step in our efforts to strengthen technical and vocational education and training in Nigeria. The B3 project implemented by UNESCO in collaboration with national institutions and funded by the Republic of Korea aims to strengthen TIVA system across sub-Saharan Africa to ensure they are more responsive to labour market demands.
“In Nigeria, our focus is on agro-processing and post-harvest management, which aligns with national priorities for food security, youth employment, and economic diversification. The development of NOS is central to this mission. These standards define the competencies, skills, and knowledge required for specific occupations and form the basis for quality demand-driven TIVA curriculum and assessment system.”
Ngome-Abyaga, while commending the collaboration between the public and private sector, urged participants to work in unity to achieve the desired goal of the meeting.
“Drawing inspiration from Korea’s national competency standards, this training aims to equip stakeholders with the tools to design and validate occupational standards that truly reflect industry and community needs. We deeply value the collaboration between NBTE, CREVET, and the Sector Skills Council for Agriculture, as well as the active participation of our partners from both the Republic and the private sector.
“This partnership reflects UNESCO’s commitment to inclusive and sustainable education reform. I encourage you to engage actively, share experiences, and work together toward establishing strong occupational standards that will elevate the quality and relevance of TIVA in Nigeria,” he added.
According to the Project Leader, at the Korean Research Institution for Vocational Education and Training (KRIVET), Dr. Sungik Cho, the training seeks to identify skill gaps and improve labour market information systems in Nigeria, particularly in the areas of post-harvest management and agro-processing.
He said: “Today’s workshop takes the next step of translating that understanding into practical frameworks for skill training and assessment through the development of the National Occupational Standards, that is, the NOS. National Occupational standards form the very backbone of any modern TVET system.
“They define what workers need to know and be able to do in a specific occupation, and they serve as the foundation for curriculum design, qualification systems, and quality assurance. They connect the world of education and training with the reality of the work.”
He added that it will also facilitate in-depth discussions with relevant stakeholders on evidence-based policy planning for sustainable labour market growth.
“The goal is to experience step-by-step how standards are conceptualised, written, and refined, and how stakeholder dialogues play a critical role throughout the whole process.
“Developing occupation standards is not just a technical exercise. It is a collective learning process. It requires the cooperation of policymakers, industry experts, educators, each contributing their own perspective.
“I sincerely hope that this workshop will serve as a meaningful opportunity to share the knowledge, strengthen the collaboration, and build a common understanding of how Nigeria can further advance its Tibet system through the development of the robust and inclusive occupation standards,” he added.
On his part, the Executive Secretary, National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), Professor Idris Bugaje, represented by the Director of Special Duties, Professor Diya’uddeen Bashir Hassan, emphasized the importance of National Occupational Standard as the foundation for the National Skills Qualifications Framework, which enables skilled individuals to gain employment within the federal system.
The Chairman Sector Skills Council For Agriculture, Mr. Onallo Akpa, advised Nigerians especially graduates, to prioritize skill acquisition over sole dependence on academic certificates.
He stressed that technical competence and innovation remain the most valuable assets in today’s competitive global economy.
The Stakeholders Consultative Meeting was organised by UNESCO in collaboration with the Korea Research Institute for Vocational Education and Training (KRIVET), and Nigeria’s Ministry of Education under the Better Education for Africa’s Rise (BEAR III) Project.