FG Begins Singapore-Led Training to Build New Generation of TVET Instructors

By Jane Salihu

The Federal Government has launched an intensive capacity-building programme to strengthen Nigeria’s technical and vocational education system by equipping instructors with modern teaching and assessment skills, as part of efforts to meet the country’s growing demand for skilled manpower.

The 10-day Train the Trainers (Pedagogy & Assessment) Programme, organised by the Federal Ministry of Education in partnership with the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) and Singapore’s Institute of Technical Education Services, is designed to produce a new generation of TVET instructors capable of delivering industry-relevant training.

The programme, which runs from June 29 to July 10, is being implemented in two phases. The first cohort of 60 teachers from federal and state technical institutions is currently undergoing training in Abuja, while another 60 participants will attend a second session in Lagos.

Speaking during the training in Abuja, National Coordinator of Special Programmes in the Office of the Minister of Education, Adebayo Onigbanjo, said the initiative goes beyond training individual teachers, as participants are expected to return to their institutions and transfer the knowledge to colleagues through a cascading model.

According to him, the strategy is aimed at rapidly expanding the country’s pool of qualified technical instructors and improving the quality of vocational education nationwide.

He disclosed that the need for more competent trainers became evident after more than 1.3 million Nigerians registered for technical skills training when the Federal Government’s TVET initiative was launched last year.

“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,” Onigbanjo said.

He explained that the collaboration with Singapore forms part of the government’s broader reforms to reposition technical education as a catalyst for economic growth, industrialisation and employment generation.

“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 added.

Also speaking, the Technical Assistant to the Minister of Education on TVET, Dr. Nabila Mohamed, said the programme seeks to transform technical education by replacing conventional theory-driven teaching with competency-based learning that prioritises practical skills.

She noted that participants are being introduced to innovative instructional methods that will enable them to better prepare students for the realities of 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.

Manager of the Academic Pedagogy Programme at Singapore’s Institute of Technical Education Services, Choo Poh Lian, explained that the training focuses on improving how teachers deliver practical lessons rather than teaching specific vocational trades.

According to her, participants are learning modern demonstration techniques, student engagement strategies, effective feedback systems and competency-based assessment methods 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 a major boost for technical education in Nigeria.

He said the training had broadened participants’ understanding of competency-based instruction and would help teachers move beyond traditional classroom teaching by placing greater emphasis on hands-on learning, practical demonstrations and continuous assessment.

The Federal Government expects the programme to create a multiplier effect, with trained instructors mentoring other teachers across the country, ultimately strengthening Nigeria’s technical education system and producing graduates equipped with skills that match industry needs.