FG launches training, job placement for 100,000 Construction Artisans nationwide

The Federal Government has commenced a nationwide initiative to train, certify, and provide job opportunities for 100,000 construction artisans across Nigeria.

The three-year National Artisan Skills Acquisition Programme (NASAP), which was formalised on Tuesday through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Polaris Capital Limited, will be funded by federal allocations, private sector investments, and donor contributions.

According to a statement by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, the programme includes a digital booking and verification platform to connect artisans directly with job opportunities and ensure the project’s sustainability beyond the MoU period.

The MoU was signed by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Shuaib Belgore, and CEO of Polaris Capital Limited, Kelvin Vihishima. Belgore said the programme is designed to modernise Nigeria’s construction workforce by strengthening technical capacity, creating employment, and promoting inclusivity, with women, youth, and persons with disabilities actively involved.

Training will cover trades such as bricklaying, masonry, plumbing, electrical installations, carpentry, painting, welding, tiling, POP and screeding, upholstery, and refrigeration and air conditioning.

Vihishima described the partnership as a key step toward reducing unemployment and addressing the housing industry’s skills gap, noting that certification would help curb quackery and ensure a pool of skilled professionals.

The ministry stated that NASAP would roll out in three phases: a pilot phase in 2025 targeting 3,000 artisans across three states, a nationwide scale-up in 2026, and the establishment of Regional Centres of Excellence in 2027.

The initiative is part of the Federal Government’s strategy to boost housing quality, bridge skills gaps, and drive sustainable urban growth.