The Federal Ministry of Education, in collaboration with the World Bank, has officially flagged off the Innovation Development and Effectiveness in the Acquisition of Skills – Technical and Vocational Education and Training (IDEAS–TVET) programme in Calabar. The initiative aims to equip Nigerian youths with practical skills for self-reliance and national development, NEGROIDHAVEN reports.
The event, which took place on Tuesday at the ASUU Secretariat, University of Calabar, marked the formal commencement of the second phase of the training programme under the IDEAS–TVET Project.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Dr. (Mrs.) Violet Bassey Eneyo, the Training Programme Manager (TPM) of Onesky Fishing Services Limited, described the initiative as “a new beginning — a step toward a future where skills become the true currency of success.” She added that the training would ensure that “every trainee leaves not just with a certificate, but with confidence, character, and the capacity to thrive in a competitive world.”
Mrs. Blessing Emi Ogwu, the National Project Coordinator (NPC) of the IDEAS–TVET Project, represented by Professor Ndem Ayara, one of the consultants of the scheme and a professor of Economics in the Department of Economics, University of Calabar, explained that the intervention is designed to “bridge the gap between potential and opportunity,” helping Nigerian youths to acquire the “skills, knowledge, and opportunities they need to build productive lives.”
Mrs. Ogwu emphasized that the project aligns with the National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF) and promotes inclusivity by targeting women and persons with disabilities (PWDs) for participation across key sectors such as engineering, renewable energy, agriculture, building construction, and fisheries.
In an interview with NEGROIDHAVEN, Dr. (Mrs.) Chinasa Uttah, a lecturer in the Department of Environmental Management, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, University of Calabar, described the programme as an empowerment-driven initiative. “This programme is all about training and empowerment,” she said. “We are training people in fisheries. It’s a Federal Government project designed to ensure that people are empowered for the future.”
Dr. Uttah advised participants to take the six-month programme seriously, adding that the true value of the training lies in its sustainability beyond immediate benefits.
“This empowerment is for tomorrow,” she stressed. “As long as you have a skill, you can make it. My advice is that participants should be serious and ensure that, by the end of the six months, they have mastered the skill.”
Also speaking, Prof. (Mrs.) Joy Eko Atu, Head of the Department of Geography and Environmental Science, University of Calabar, commended the project’s structure, noting that it provides beneficiaries with both skills and certification—two essentials often lacking among Nigerian youths.
“Most often, Nigerian youths either have the skill without certification or the certification without the skill,” she noted. “But with this programme, they have the opportunity of having both.”
Prof. Atu further observed that the initiative could help reduce the ‘japa’ syndrome by creating viable local opportunities.
“With this training, they may not need to travel abroad,” she said. “The sectors being developed—poultry and fisheries—are key aspects of our dietary needs. There’s a huge market for these skills in Nigeria, and beneficiaries can grow their businesses to compete even internationally.”
The IDEAS–TVET Programme is a World Bank–assisted project implemented by the Federal Ministry of Education to strengthen Nigeria’s skills development system and foster sustainable employment. One million youths across the country are expected to benefit through Training Service Providers (TSPs) such as Onesky Fishing Services Limited and others nationwide.
The event ended with renewed optimism that the project would significantly contribute to building a skilled, prosperous, and self-reliant Nigeria.
