FG Overhauls NBTE to Address Skills Mismatch in Nigeria

The Federal Government of Nigeria has launched a comprehensive institutional reform of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), led by Minister of Education Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa. This initiative aims to transform NBTE into a more effective regulator of Nigeria’s technical and vocational education system, following a KPMG-led assessment.

The reform seeks to address a skills mismatch in an economy where 93% of the workforce is in the informal sector and nearly 12% of young Nigerians are not engaged in education, employment, or skills training. Alausa emphasized that the restructuring aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, focusing on skills, employability, and productivity.

KPMG Advisory Services will conduct a thorough assessment of NBTE’s structure and processes, leading to a transformation roadmap. Additionally, a N1 billion intervention from TETFund has facilitated the modernization of the curriculum, resulting in 27 new National Occupational Standards and updates to four existing standards, enhancing the connection between technical education and job market needs.