The Federal Government, in partnership with Singapore’s Institute of Education, has commenced a capacity-building programme aimed at strengthening the delivery of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) across Nigeria through the training of instructors and educators.
The initiative, tagged the “Train the Trainers (Pedagogy & Assessment) Programme,” is a 10-day intensive training jointly organised by the Federal Ministry of Education, the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), and the Institute of Education, Singapore.
The programme is being implemented in two cohorts. The first batch of 60 TVET teachers drawn from federal and state institutions is currently undergoing training in Abuja, while another 60 participants will undertake the programme in Lagos.
Speaking during the training in Abuja, the National Coordinator of Special Programmes in the Office of the Minister of Education, Adebayo Onigbanjo, said the initiative is designed to equip Nigerian TVET educators with modern pedagogical and assessment skills that will improve the quality of technical education nationwide.
He explained that participants are expected to transfer the knowledge acquired to their colleagues through a cascading training model, creating a multiplier effect that will ultimately benefit students across the country.
According to him, the programme is part of the Federal Government’s broader strategy to expand teaching capacity in Federal Technical Colleges and other TVET institutions to meet the growing demand for skilled professionals.
“The ultimate goal is to produce more competent instructors who can deliver quality vocational education and equip students with industry-relevant skills,” he said.
Onigbanjo noted that the initiative forms part of a broader collaboration between Nigeria and Singapore to develop a new generation of highly skilled technical instructors capable of training thousands of students across the country.
“We are working with the Institute of Technical Education Services in Singapore to develop capacity for TVET in Nigeria. This training focuses on pedagogy and assessment, equipping teachers with the best methods for technical instruction,” he said.
He expressed confidence that the programme would strengthen instructional capacity across Federal Technical Colleges through continuous peer-to-peer training, leading to improved learning outcomes nationwide.
He also disclosed that more than 1.3 million Nigerians registered for technical skills training following the launch of the government’s TVET initiative last year, underscoring the urgent need to expand the pool of qualified instructors.
“We need more trainers. Those being trained today will return to their schools and train their colleagues, allowing us to scale up capacity across the country,” he added.
Also speaking, the Technical Assistant to the Minister of Education on TVET, Dr Nabila Mohamed, said the programme is aimed at transforming technical education by shifting instruction from theory-based teaching to competency-based practical learning.
She explained that participants would be exposed to modern instructional techniques that would enable them to better engage students and prepare them for the workplace.
“The biggest takeaway is making training competency-based. Rather than focusing mainly on theory, teachers will integrate practical skills that prepare students for employment while learning effective methods of delivering those skills,” she said.
The Manager of the Academic Pedagogy Programme at Singapore’s Institute of Technical Education Services, Choo Poh Lian, clarified that the training is not designed to teach specific trades but to strengthen instructors’ pedagogical skills for practical teaching.
According to her, participants are learning demonstration techniques, student engagement strategies, effective feedback methods, and performance-based assessment aligned with industry standards.
“We are sharing how Singapore teaches practical skills so that graduates become workplace-ready. We are focusing on pedagogy—how teachers demonstrate, guide students through practical tasks, provide constructive feedback and assess competencies based on industry performance criteria,” she said.
One of the participants, Odebode Adegoke of the Federal Science and Technical College, Ijebu-Imushin, Ogun State, described the programme as timely and impactful.
He said the training had broadened participants’ understanding of competency-based instruction and assessment, adding that the practical teaching methods being introduced would make learning more engaging and better aligned with industry needs.
According to him, exposure to Singapore’s globally recognised TVET model would enable teachers to move beyond traditional classroom instruction by placing greater emphasis on practical demonstrations, hands-on learning and continuous assessment of students’ competencies.
The programme, which runs from June 29 to July 10, marks another milestone in the Federal Government’s efforts to reposition technical and vocational education as a key driver of job creation, industrialisation and economic growth.
