By Muhammad Amaan
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) has called for increased investment in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) to enhance skills development and reduce unemployment in Nigeria.
Head of Office and Representative of the UNESCO Office Abuja, Dr Jean-Paul Abiaga, made the call at a Labour Market Workshop on skills gap analysis in the agro-processing sector under the BEAR III project.
Dr Abiaga, represented by Dr Ifeanyi Ajaegbo, National Programme Officer on Culture at UNESCO, said strategic measures were needed to attract investment in TVET and bridge skills gaps, particularly in agriculture and technology.
He said UNESCO was working to make TVET more attractive by developing educational career materials to promote skills guidance and counselling.
According to him, the workshop also focuses on introducing international best practices on work-based learning and knowledge-sharing platforms, while assessing current challenges and opportunities in the sector.
Dr Abiaga said the outcome would include the development of guidance notes and recommendations for scaling up work-based learning, with emphasis on agro-processing.
Also speaking, Director of Technology and Science Education, Federal Ministry of Education, Mrs Patricia Ogungbemi, commended the BEAR III project supported by the Government of the Republic of Korea.
Mrs Ogungbemi, represented by Mrs Christiana Obaje, Deputy Director in the ministry, said investment in TVET would fast-track skills acquisition and produce industry-ready graduates.
She said work-based learning remained key to integrating real-world experience into academic curricula and equipping students with practical knowledge.
Ogungbemi noted that Nigeria’s agro-processing sector was undergoing technological transformation, requiring enhanced skills and stronger collaboration between institutions and industry stakeholders.
She added that the consultation is aimed at strengthening frameworks for apprenticeship and practical training in employing organisations.
The event featured remarks by the Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), Professor Idris Bugaje, represented by Datti Bashir, as well as Mr Onallo Akpa, Chairman, Sector Skills Council for Agriculture.
