By Gabriel Ameh
The National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) and Teach the Child Initiative have formalized a new partnership aimed at strengthening skills development and employment opportunities for rural youths across the six area councils of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), signed yesterday on behalf of the Executive Secretary of NBTE, Professor Idris M. Bugaje, by Engr. Bashir Datti, Head, Work Skills Nigeria (WSN), NBTE Kaduna, marks a major step toward expanding awareness and implementation of the Nigeria Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF) and Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in underserved communities.
Also present at the ceremony was Pascal Durand, French expatriate and career expert embedded in NBTE, who commended the collaboration as a forward-thinking intervention that aligns with global best practices in youth capacity development.
Under the agreement, Teach the Child Initiative a registered non-governmental organization with its office in Gwarimpa, Abuja will champion the Employment Advocacy for Rural Youths Project, a structured campaign designed to sensitize young people, stakeholders, and local institutions about the value and opportunities within the NSQF.
Key Areas of Collaboration
The MoU outlines joint efforts in:
1. Public Awareness and Sensitization:
Teach the Child will lead targeted engagements across FCT’s six area councils, including focus group discussions, stakeholder advocacy visits, and town hall meetings to educate youths on:
The importance of the NSQF,
where and how to access recognized skills qualifications, and why employers should integrate NSQF standards into their recruitment processes.
2. Digital and Social Media Promotion:
Both partners will work together to amplify TVET and NSQF visibility through online campaigns, strategic content creation, and digital tools designed to reach young people where they are most active.
Speaking at the event, Engr. Datti reiterated NBTE’s commitment to expanding accessible, industry-relevant skills training, saying the collaboration is timely and essential in closing Nigeria’s youth unemployment gap. He emphasized that credible skills certification remains a sustainable route to empowering rural communities and boosting national productivity.
In her remarks, the Chief Executive Officer of Teach the Child Initiative, Pearl Utuk, described the MoU as a significant milestone in the organization’s mission to empower young Nigerians with the tools they need to thrive in a rapidly changing economy.
This partnership with NBTE represents hope, opportunity, and a clear pathway to employment for thousands of young people across the FCT,” she said. “For too long, rural youths have been excluded from conversations about skills development and the future of work. Through this project, we are bringing the Nigeria Skills Qualification Framework directly to their communities, breaking the barriers, and ensuring they understand that technical and vocational skills can change their lives.
Utuk emphasized that the Employment Advocacy for Rural Youths Project is not just an awareness initiative but a pipeline to real opportunities.
We are not only informing youths about the NSQF we are connecting them to certified centres, showing them how to enrol, and working with private sector stakeholders to embrace skills-based recruitment,” she added.
She lauded NBTE for its openness to collaboration and stressed that the success of the project will depend on sustained engagement, community support, and strong partnerships with local institutions.
This is the beginning of a long-term transformation. With the support of NBTE and our partners, we are confident that more young people will gain the skills, confidence, and certification needed to secure meaningful employment and contribute to national development.
