EU Supports Nigeria's Workforce Development Initiative

The European Union, represented by Massimo De Luca, Head of Cooperation, expressed support for Nigeria's efforts to build a workforce capable of meeting investor needs. Speaking in Abuja during a roundtable on national skills and industry alignment, De Luca highlighted the untapped talent in Nigeria and the need for a coordinated approach to address skill shortages.

Yemi Kale, Group Chief Economist and Managing Director of Research at the African Export-Import Bank, noted that fragmented data hinders employment opportunities in Nigeria's labor market. Rimam Nuhu, Special Assistant to the Vice President on Workforce Development, emphasized the creation of an evidence-based policy framework to address skill mismatches.

Afolabi Imoukhued, Strategic Partnership Lead at the Vice President's office, discussed the need for better data coordination to inform policy decisions. Akubo Adegb, Senior Special Assistant to the President, reiterated the government's commitment to tackling unemployment and skill mismatches through improved data utilization.