FG to Launch TVET Job Portal to Link Skilled Nigerians With Employers
The Federal Government says it is developing a national job-market portal that will connect graduates of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programmes directly with employers. The platform is being built with support from the World Bank and is expected to focus strictly on employment outcomes for trained Nigerians.
The Minister of Education, Morufu Olatunji Alausa, disclosed this during an interview on Channels Television, where he explained that the government no longer wants skills training to end with certificates that do not translate into jobs.
Why the Government Is Introducing the Portal
According to the minister, past vocational programmes failed largely because trainees were left without clear access to employment after completing their training.
In his words, the government made a deliberate decision to embed employment into the current TVET reforms.
He said training alone was not enough and that the new approach focuses on what happens after people acquire skills.
What the TVET Job Marketplace Will Do
The proposed platform is designed to function as a dedicated employment space for Nigerians trained under TVET and related skills programmes.
The portal will:
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Host profiles of TVET trainees and graduates as they complete their programmes
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Allow manufacturers, recruiters, and employers to search for verified skilled workers
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Connect industries directly with Nigerians trained to meet their labour needs
The minister stressed that the portal is not meant to operate like a general job website but as a targeted employment system.
Reducing Dependence on Foreign Technicians
Alausa linked the initiative to Nigeria’s long-standing dependence on foreign technical labour, describing it as a problem the TVET reforms are meant to address.
He explained that industries sometimes import technicians because skilled local workers are not easily accessible, even when they exist. The new platform is intended to close that gap by making trained Nigerians visible and reachable.
World Bank Support and Development Process
The minister confirmed that the platform is being developed with World Bank involvement to ensure credibility and long-term viability.
According to him:
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Procurement processes are being finalised with World Bank support
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The platform will undergo pilot and beta testing
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Public access will only be opened after functionality is confirmed
He said the government is taking a careful approach, informed by lessons from earlier programmes that were launched too quickly.
Preparations Ahead of Launch
Alausa said groundwork is already in place to ensure the portal is active once it goes live.
He explained that:
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The government already has records of trainees currently undergoing TVET programmes
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Graduates will be uploaded onto the platform as they complete training
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Databases of manufacturers and employers are also being compiled
This, he said, will ensure that both skilled workers and employers are present from day one.
Link to the Wider TVET Reform Plan
The job-market portal forms part of the broader TVET reform agenda, which targets training one million Nigerians in priority skill areas.
According to the minister, skills gaps were identified through sector analysis, and training is being focused on areas where actual labour demand exists.
Public Awareness and Rollout
The minister said information about the portal will be shared widely once it is ready, noting that earlier TVET initiatives attracted strong public interest.
He recalled that over one million Nigerians applied shortly after the training portal was opened, showing clear demand for programmes that lead to real opportunities.
Government’s Position on Skills and Employment
Alausa said the portal reflects a change in how government views skills development.
According to him, vocational education must lead to work, and work must provide dignity and stability for young Nigerians.
The planned job-market platform, he said, is meant to ensure that technical skills translate into actual employment across the country.
