- Nigeria partners with Singapore to strengthen its Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) system through NBTE-ITEES collaboration.
- The initiative includes a Train-the-Trainer programme and leadership training for TVET instructors and institutional heads.
- The Global Excellence Model for Skills Training (GEMSET) will guide Nigerian TVET institutions to meet international standards and boost workforce development.
The Federal Government has taken a significant step toward transforming technical education in Nigeria through a new partnership with Singapore, aimed at strengthening the country’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) system. The agreement, signed between Nigeria’s National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) and Singapore’s ITE Education Services (ITEES), seeks to improve the quality of technical education nationwide by equipping instructors and institutional leaders with advanced skills and international best practices.
The collaboration builds on groundwork laid during the official visit of Nigeria’s Minister of Education, Maruf Tunji Alausa, to Singapore in 2025, where he met with Singapore’s Minister of Education, Desmond Lee, and toured campuses of the Institute of Technical Education to study its globally acclaimed technical education system. Further discussions with Singapore’s High Commissioner to Nigeria, Lim Sim Seng, helped finalize the framework of the partnership, which was formalized during a signing ceremony connecting officials in Abuja and Singapore.
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A key component of the initiative is a Train-the-Trainer programme, through which Nigerian TVET instructors will receive specialised training in modern teaching methods, assessment practices, and pedagogical skills. This approach is designed to enhance the quality of technical training delivered to students and ensure it meets global standards. In addition, principals and heads of departments from technical institutions across Nigeria will have the opportunity to participate in leadership training in Singapore, aimed at strengthening institutional management and governance.
The partnership also introduces the Global Excellence Model for Skills Training (GEMSET) to Nigeria. This framework will assess TVET institutions across seven dimensions of excellence, guiding improvements in facilities, workshops, and overall institutional performance while aligning Nigeria’s technical education system with international benchmarks.
Speaking on the initiative, Minister Alausa highlighted Singapore’s TVET system as a model for building highly skilled and competitive workforces. He noted that the collaboration with ITEES will accelerate Nigeria’s efforts to modernize technical education, equipping educators with innovative teaching methods and strengthening institutional capacity. The programme supports the Federal Government’s broader goal of positioning technical education as a driver of economic growth, job creation, and industrial development, and aligns with the National Education, Skills and Research for Innovation (NESRI) agenda and the vision of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to develop a knowledge-driven economy powered by skills, innovation, and human capital.
