Shettima tasks Skills Council on global standards for made-in-Nigeria products
Vice President Kashim Shettima on Thursday charged members of the National Council on Skills (NCS) to ensure that Made-in-Nigeria products and services attain and sustain world-class standards, as part of
- ... Says nation must harness grassroots innovation for industrial growth
- ... Council reviews Nigeria’s participation in WorldSkills Shanghai 2026
- By Bolaji Ogundele, Abuja
Vice President Kashim Shettima on Thursday charged members of the National Council on Skills (NCS) to ensure that Made-in-Nigeria products and services attain and sustain world-class standards, as part of efforts to drive the country’s industrialisation agenda.
Speaking while chairing the 8th meeting of the council at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Shettima urged stakeholders across federal ministries, state governments and the private sector to harness the innovative energy of Nigerians to power ongoing economic transformation.
He said the ingenuity of Nigerians—visible in workshops, schools and informal sectors—must be deliberately channelled into building globally competitive products and services.
In a statement issued by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, Office of the Vice President, Stanley Nkwocha, Shettima said “our goal is to ensure that Made in Nigeria is synonymous with world-class”.
Shettima noted that the council’s responsibilities go beyond preparations for the 48th WorldSkills Competition scheduled for Shanghai in 2026, stressing that the initiative represents a broader ambition to position Nigeria for global relevance.
According to him, this vision spans diverse sectors, from technology hubs in Lagos to industrial clusters in Nnewi and agricultural innovation in Benue, all contributing to a unified national objective.
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He emphasised the need for synergy among institutions, identifying the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) and the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) as critical drivers of human capital development under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The Vice President underscored that collaboration remains indispensable to achieving the council’s mandate, urging members to remain focused on delivering tangible outcomes for Nigerians.
“As we leave this chamber, remember who we serve. We owe them jobs. We owe them hope. We owe them a future where their skills are their currency. The future belongs to those who prepare for it today,” he said.
The council also considered a memorandum on Nigeria’s participation in the upcoming WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 competition, which will bring together young skilled professionals from across the world.
In addition, members reviewed a proposal by Dangote Industries to organise a one-month “train-the-trainer” programme targeting 100 participants in high-demand technical fields, including industrial mechanics, electronics, instrumentation, welding and fabrication, as well as heavy-duty equipment operations.
The council commended the initiative and requested periodic updates on its implementation.
Dignitaries at the meeting included Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani; Minister of Education, Dr Morufu Tunji Alausa; Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu; Minister of State for Industry, Senator John Owan Enoh; Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Musa Dangiwa; Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia; and a representative of the Dangote Foundation.
