No fewer than 27 Nigerian youths would be leaving the shores of the country for skills training om Polamd and Denmark, through the Nigerian Youth Skills Empowerment (NYSE) II programme.
At the Presentation of the awaiting Apprentices in Abuja on Tuesday, Prof. Idris Bugaje, Executive Secretary, National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) said the training would provide Nigerians with hands-on knowledge.
Bujage said the Board has been collaborating with the ERYK group since 2019 to export Nigerians to Poland and Denmark to enable them learn skills.
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The training will enable successful candidates to acquire European skills certification as electricians.
The students may choose to work in the these countries to address the skilled labour deficit or return home with knowledge acquired to contribute to Nigeria’s quest for technological development.
Bugaje explained that the initiative would not only make polytechnics institutions of choice but also address the agelong apathy towards Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET)
“The Nigerian Youth Skills Empowerment Programme is an opportunity for young Nigerians who have a National Diploma in Electrical Engineering to have the opportunity of apprenticeship training in Europe for two years.
“It will make them acquire European skills qualification band after that, they will be given an opportunity for employment in Europe.
“At the moment, we are dealing with Denmark and Poland, and the students will serve in these countries and at the end of the day, they will come back to Nigeria to build industries using their experiences.
Bugaje further explained thay the board in November 2024 reviewed the polytechnics curriculum for benchmarking against European standards.
He said this would enable the polytechnics to deliver better electrical engineering technicians that would benefit the entire education system.
He added that the Board targets to produce 1,000 Nigerian apprentices in the next 10 years that would contribute to the country through sustainable jobs.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, said the partnership with the European company would bridge the gap between classroom learning and the demands of the global workforce.
Alausa, represented by his Senior Special Adviser, Dr Ismaila Adiatu, said the initiative would also contribute to reducing unemployment, fostering self-reliance, and positioning Nigeria as a hub for skilled professionals.
“In an era marked by rapid technological advancements and an increasing reliance on sustainable energy solutions, the demand for skilled professionals in this field cannot be overstated.
“By equipping our graduates with the necessary technical skills, practical knowledge, and global exposure, you are not just preparing them for employment you are empowering them to drive innovation,” he said.
On his part, the President of ERYK group, Jens-Christian Moller said that Poland with an aging population needed to tap into the Nigerian population for the development of skilled labour.
He promised to sustain the cooperation with Nigeria to build a country with functional skilled expertise.
