By Peace Erewunmi

The Federal Government has expressed concern over the growing skills gap among Nigerian youths, revealing that even basic technical jobs such as tiling are increasingly being handled by foreign workers in the country.

The Minister of State for Education, Suwaiba Ahmad, raised the concern during a youth-focused programme aired on Channels Television, where she highlighted the urgent need for practical skill development among young Nigerians.

According to her, a recent skills gap analysis showed that many Nigerians lack hands-on experience in several technical and vocational fields despite high unemployment levels.

She noted that opportunities exist in areas such as construction, solar energy installation, and other vocational trades, but there are not enough trained local professionals to fill these roles.

The minister explained that as a result, workers from neighbouring countries are often engaged for jobs such as tiling, while many Nigerian youths remain unemployed or underemployed.

She added that the Federal Government is already implementing Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programmes aimed at addressing the gap.

According to her, the initiative includes training in about 25 skill areas, with both short-term and long-term programmes designed to equip youths with practical, job-ready skills.

She further stated that thousands of young Nigerians are already participating in the programme, with some having completed training and received starter packs to support their entry into the workforce.

The minister also emphasized that academic certificates alone are no longer sufficient in today’s labour market, stressing the importance of skill acquisition for employability.

As of the time of filing this report, the Federal Government says it remains committed to expanding