The Niger Delta’s technical skills landscape is poised for significant transformation as the Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND) has launched a ₦113 million programme to modernise 14 Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) centres across the region.
The upgrade initiative, which directly aligns with PIND’s drive to elevate the standards and capacity of TVET institutions, will support centres in Aba, Warri, Port Harcourt, Uyo and Asaba, hubs that collectively train thousands of young people seeking employable skills and entrepreneurial pathways.
Speaking at the launch, PIND’s Executive Director, Mr Sam Ogbemi Daibo, said the investment is designed to strengthen the region’s skills development ecosystem by expanding training capacity, improving infrastructure, and enhancing the long-term sustainability of participating centres.
“We are not just upgrading equipment; we are upgrading futures,” he said. “This investment ensures that TVET centres can train more young people with skills demanded by today’s industries. When we strengthen institutions that train youth, we strengthen livelihoods, businesses and the future of the Niger Delta.”
Operators of beneficiary centres expressed optimism about the programme’s impact. A representative from a Port Harcourt-based training hub said the grant would significantly boost their ability to train more learners. “For many young people, skills training is access to dignity, income and independence. PIND’s support brings us closer to that reality,” the representative noted.
Running from September 2025 to February 2026, the TVET Facilities Upgrade Programme is expected to directly benefit more than 10,000 unemployed youths through improved access to market-relevant training and better job and enterprise linkages.
As part of the rollout, PIND also convened a strategy workshop involving government agencies, private sector actors and development partners to explore pathways for building a more commercially viable and resilient TVET sector in the region.
By enabling training centres to operate at higher standards and accommodate more learners, PIND is positioning skills development as a key driver of youth employment, innovation and inclusive growth across the Niger Delta.
