TVET Program Graduates First Cohort of Master Crafters and Artisans

...Unveils Nigeria's Largest Online Platform for Local Apprenticeships

Research Links and Nerdzfactory, in collaboration with the Mastercard Foundation, are set to celebrate the graduation of the first cohort of artisans and tradesmen trained under the groundbreaking Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) Program. The graduation ceremony will take place on Saturday, November 9th, at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce Building, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos. Alongside the graduation, the event will feature the launch of a pioneering digital platform designed to aggregate local apprenticeship opportunities.

The TVET Program, spearheaded by Research Links and Nerdzfactory, aims to advance indigenous technical and vocational training, providing young people and Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) with specialized training and business support. By empowering expert artisans and master crafters, the program seeks to bridge systemic gaps in access to quality apprenticeship opportunities and promote best practices in the trades.

A key feature of the program is the introduction of a unique digital platform that will bring together trained and vetted craftsmen and women, offering easy access to apprenticeship opportunities for young trainees and aspiring artisans across the country. This initiative is poised to revolutionize the apprenticeship landscape, fostering growth and sustainability in Nigeria’s artisanal and trades sector.

To date, over 200 vetted artisans and tradesmen in three local government areas in Lagos; Ikeja, Ifako Ijaiye and Agege have been selected for the program and supported with business development trainings. The program aims to onboard many more artisans in the coming months, expanding its reach and impact. Key business areas that the vetted artisans and tradesmen were trained in include digital literacy, operations and financial management and good workplace practices.

Speaking on this, Research Links Programs Coordinator, Mrs. Eme Young said, ‘our partnership with the Mastercard Foundation in implementing this program is dedicated to ultimately supporting more young people - especially young women- access dignified and fulfilling work. To achieve this, the support provided to the master crafters is highly critical in ensuring the sustainability of their businesses and elevation of opportunities for the provision of quality services to the general public.’

Ade Olowojoba, NerdzFactory Director, NerdzFactory said ‘local artisans and tradesmen especially women in the informal sector are mostly disenfranchised with lack of opportunities for technical upskilling and reskilling to enable them to compete with their peers in today’s world. This ultimately affects the quality of their knowledge and the work learned from them by millions of young apprentices in the country. The average artisan or tradesmen trains approximately 2 to 3 young people especially young women each year, scaling this program will enable us provide more tailored support to all participants with expected impact across communities and areas where this intervention will be implemented.’