High-Demand Skills: How to Apply for FG’s Free ‘Learn a Skill, Get Paid’ Program

With over 13 million young Nigerians either unemployed or underemployed, the country is sitting on a demographic time bomb. In response, the Federal Government has launched an ambitious tuition-free training program to arm its youth population with high-demand skills.

The Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) initiative, spearheaded by the Ministry of Education, will provide participants with opportunities to learn technical and digital skills while offering startup grants and loans upon graduation.

The initiative is expected to launch in September 2025, operating at both the federal and state levels.

“We’re not just training youths—we’re building an economy from the grassroots by monetising skill acquisition,” says a senior official familiar with the programme.

What’s in it for you?

1. Financial incentives redefining education

• Monthly stipend: ₦22,500 paid via NELFund’s biometric-verified platform (linked to NIN/BVN)

• Zero-cost participation: Free tuition, accommodation, and meals at accredited centres nationwide.

• Post-training support: Startup grants up to ₦500,000 and Bank of Industry loans at 5% interest

2. Three-track training system

The programme is structured into three main tracks: the Short-Term Certificate (STC) Programme, Vocational Education and Innovation (VEI) Programme, and Technical College Programme.

See the image below for the duration of each programme and its requirements, or click here.

3. High-demand skill areas

• Technical trades: Welding, plumbing, electrical installation

• Green economy: Solar panel maintenance, waste management

• Digital sectors: Hardware repair, network installation, digital media

Accredited training network

Over 400 centres across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones have been approved by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), with curricula aligned to the National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF)

Key infrastructure investments:

• ₦18 billion allocated for modern equipment in the 2024–2025 budget

• Partnerships with German and Chinese vocational institutes for trainer upskilling

Transparency safeguards

• Biometric attendance systems to prevent ghost participants

• Public dashboard tracking stipend disbursements and graduation rates

Economic impact projections

• 2026–2030 target: Train 2.1 million youths across priority sectors

• GDP boost: Estimated 4.3% growth in construction and manufacturing sectors

• Foreign investment: Dangote Group and Shell Nigeria have already committed to hiring TVET graduates

Social transformation

• Gender focus: 40% slots reserved for women in male-dominated trades

• Rural reach: Mobile training units deploying to 12 northern states

• Disability inclusion: Sign language interpreters at 78% of centres

How to apply: step-by-step guide

• Eligibility: Nigerian citizens aged 13 and above (parental consent required for minors)

• Documentation: NIN, BVN, and local government identification

• Registration Portal: TVET.education.gov.ng (live since June 2025)

Nigeria’s pressing youth unemployment problem is underscored by recent data from the National Bureau of Statistics, which reveals that unemployment among youths (persons aged 15-24 years) and persons aged 25-34 was the highest at 6.5 per cent in 2024Q2, a figure notably above the national average of 4.3 per cent.

The Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) further emphasises this issue, stating, “this suggests the youth population is less engaged than the other age groups in the labour force.”