By Dalhatu Liman
The National Senior Secondary Education Commission (NSSEC), in partnership with the Industrial Training Fund (ITF), has concluded the pilot edition of its Long Vacation Skills Acquisition Programme, training 100 senior secondary school students from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in various vocational fields.
Speaking at the closing ceremony held at the ITF House, Maitama, the Executive Secretary of NSSEC, Dr. Iyela Ajayi, described the initiative as a strategic contribution to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises youth empowerment, education, and job creation.
“For two weeks, these young Nigerians have been exposed to hands-on training in critical skill areas such as POP design, tiling, plumbing, painting and decoration, solar panel installation, CCTV installation, catering and culinary skills, as well as robotics,” Ajayi said.
He noted that early exposure to entrepreneurial skills equips students to “innovate, compete and contribute meaningfully to national development.”
Ajayi also highlighted NSSEC’s recent strides, including the “Grow What You Eat” initiative to promote school farming, capacity building for teachers, and the development of minimum standards and a national policy for senior secondary education.
“These milestones would not have been possible without the support of the Honourable Minister of Education and the Honourable Minister of State for Education,” he said, adding that their leadership has driven progress in compulsory 12-year education, technical and vocational training, and inclusive access for girls and learners with special needs.
Addressing the students, Ajayi said, “You are leaving this programme not just with skills, but with a new mindset, a mindset of creativity, problem-solving and self-reliance.”
He thanked the ITF for its partnership and the FCT Education Secretariat for providing accommodation, ensuring the students were “properly housed, safe and comfortable.”
The ceremony marked a significant step in NSSEC’s efforts to reposition senior secondary education as a driver of national development through practical learning and inclusive policy reforms.
