Applications began on Monday, April 13, 2026, through the official TVET portal. Officials say the exercise targets young Nigerians seeking practical skills for work and for starting small businesses.

The programme runs across accredited centres in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, offering two training paths. One lasts six months under the Short-Term Certificate track and the other runs for one year under the Vocational Education and Innovation track.

Training covers more than 25 trades. These include electrical installation, welding, plumbing, ICT, automotive repair, fashion design, cosmetology, agriculture, solar installation, creative media, and hospitality services.

Minister of Education, Maruf Tunji Alausa, said the programme focuses on long-term economic outcomes.

“In strengthening this programme, the Federal Government is investing in the productive capacity of our youth. By providing practical training and recognised certification, we are creating pathways for self-employment, innovation, and long-term economic growth,” Dr Alausa stated.

The ministry says the initiative will also expand training in the creative and cultural sectors. It is working with the Ministry of Arts, Culture and Tourism to support that goal.

Each trainee will receive support throughout the programme. The structure includes free tuition, monthly stipends, and certification after completion.

“Participants will receive a monthly stipend of N22,500 throughout the duration of their training and will be awarded a nationally recognised certification upon successful completion.

“Training will cover a wide range of high-demand sectors, including construction, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), automotive technology, creative media, agriculture, fashion and garment production, cosmetology, tourism and hospitality, catering services, and leather works, among others,” the statement partly reads.

Officials also confirmed startup grants and access to low-interest loans for graduates. The aim focuses on helping trainees move straight into work or self-employment.

The ministry requires applicants to provide a National Identification Number and Bank Verification Number during registration. It also says attendance will go through biometric checks. Only trainees who meet attendance rules will receive stipends.

How to Apply

Applications for TVET second cohort go through the website. The ministry has asked candidates to complete registration early and select approved training centres.

The programme sits within a national skills plan, aligning with efforts to reduce unemployment and expand vocational training across Nigeria.

In December 2025, the government released N4.7 billion as the first tranche of payments to trainees and accredited centres under the TVET scheme. The Education Minister announced the release through a statement shared on X.

The rollout started earlier in May last year. Since then, the government has pushed to expand participation across states.

Interest in the programme has grown. Within one week of the portal opening in 2025, officials recorded more than 90,000 applications.

Entrance examination figures also rose. Participation moved from 7,547 candidates in 2024 to 30,000 in 2025. That was an increase of nearly 300%.

The ministry also introduced an artisan-led mentorship model and now operates across 38 upgraded technical colleges. Experienced craftsmen guide trainees directly on practical tasks.

Accreditation regulations for training centres are strict. Centres must register with the Corporate Affairs Commission and must also adopt an NSQ-based curriculum and meet staffing and facility standards.

Officials still describe TVET as an important part of Nigeria’s skills drive. The programme links formal training with industry needs, seeking to close gaps between education and employment.

More updates are expected as the second cohort begins registration and screening across the country.

Held on Thursday, November 20, at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta, the event convened government leaders, founders, investors, creators, technologists and policy makers to map out what tomorrow could look like for Ogun’s fast-growing innovation sector. 

The summit, now in its sixth edition, has become the largest annual gathering of youth and digital talent in the state.

A Summit Framed by Urgency and Opportunity

The Deputy Governor of Ogun State, Engr. Naimat Salako-Oyedele, described the digital economy as “the backbone of modern development” She stressed that young people are central to the state’s growth strategy.

She described how Ogun has spent the past few years laying the foundations for a thriving technology ecosystem: “We have been intentional here in Ogun state about creating the right environment for technology to flourish.” 

She pointed out the transformation of the Ogun Tech Hub; partnerships with innovation clusters; and new international collaborations, including the Window America initiative, which provides workshops and learning opportunities for young people.

The Deputy Governor also announced the newly commissioned NCC Koba Centre, already training youths in AI engineering, cloud computing and data technologies. According to her, its location in Ogun is “not accidental… It reflects the confidence that national institutions and private partners have in our talent base.” 

But she also warned, “We must not work in silos. We need more coordination, more shared learning and more deliberate linkages between state programs, federal initiatives, private sector projects, university research and community-based ecosystem.” 

A Federal Perspective: Nigeria Must Create, Not Just Consume

Representing the Presidency, Tobi Matthew, director of the PBAT Media Centre, gave a statement reinforcing the federal government’s position on digital acceleration growth.

He noted, “Nigeria must not only consume technology, we must create it and also export it.” 

He outlined three pillars of a functional digital ecosystem, policy, governance and partnership, and emphasised the administration’s focus on reforms that ease doing tech business, expand broadband access and strengthen global partnerships.

According to him, summits like Ogun’s bridge government and the tech community by helping “co-create policies that work in the real world.” 

Legislative Power Meets Tech Vision

The summit received a strong policy perspective from Senator Shuaib Afolabi Salisu, who announced that the long-awaited National Digital Economy and E-Governance Bill would soon be signed into law.

The bill, he explained, will compel ministries and agencies to digitise operations: “They are all compared, not as a matter of option. They are compared to digital patients.” 

He described how digital signatures and electronic documents would gain full legal recognition, removing long-standing limitations for startups and online businesses. The Senator called the summit “the largest gathering of youth in Ogun state… gathered for empowerment that truly empowers.” 

Founders and Innovators Urged to Build for Ogun, Not Just From It

Summit Convener Victor Adeleye returned to a central problem; retention. Although many celebrated Nigerian startups originated from Ogun institutions, most relocate to Lagos. He challenged young innovators to stay and build where they were trained.

“The tech skill is not the destination, it’s just the beginning.” 

He added that more than 7,500 talents have been supported since 2020, and that the state is now spotlighting revenue-generating startups built locally.

PaidHR’s Seye Bandele Urges Founders to Build for Africa’s Realities, Not Imported Playbooks

Seye Bandele, co-founder & CEO of PaidHR, told young founders that Africa is in its own “printing-press moment”, a turning point impacted by AI, rapid information flow and a high youth population.

He drew parallels between Gutenberg’s invention and today’s technology wave, stressing that the tools being built now will affect the next 100 years of African innovation.

Seye warned that founders must build with Africa’s realities in mind; weak infrastructure, low internet access and high volatility, not imported frameworks. He urged them to design products that work offline, handle currency swings, embed trust from day one and collect data intentionally.

He also emphasised that Africa’s population surge makes the continent the world’s next major market, and those building today must think in decades, not sprints. For him, progress comes from solving real problems and adapting global ideas to local context.

“You may not see the full impact, but what you build today is what the next generation will inherit.”

Microsoft’s Damila Rashu, lead for AI and Cloud, reiterated the global relevance of Ogun’s emerging talent pool and encouraged founders to join Microsoft’s startup programmes.

“Hopefully, in a few months, a few years down the line, we will have our own global unicorns right here in Ogun state.” 

Earlier, Bola Akindele, group managing director of Courteville Business Solutions Plc, recalled the evolution of his own company and the importance of domain understanding, using examples from his early academic journey.

Messan to Founders: “Traction Is Your Number One De-Risker”

David Lanre Messan, chief venture builder at FirstFounders, explained that most struggles with fundraising come from poor positioning, not lack of ideas.

He stressed that “every investor has an investment thesis,” urging founders to first identify whether they are at the idea, product or revenue stage before approaching anyone.

Messan noted that early-stage success depends on validation and real market demand, noting that “you cannot build anything without automatic demand.” He closed with an insight that investors respond to proof, not promises: “traction is your number one de-risker.”

Dr Solomon King: The Power of Diaspora Capital

From the Lagos Angel Network, Dr Solomon King presented a startling economic context: “17 million Nigerians live in the diaspora, and those 17 million people push back home to Nigeria, 20 billion US dollars on average per year.” 

He argued that this flow of capital, coupled with Ogun’s youth base, positions the region for outstanding investment if structures stay consistent.

Community Leadership: Ogun Tech Community’s Stand

President of the Ogun Tech Community, Adekunle Durosinmi, commended the summit for becoming a reference point. “We have seen the ecosystem growing stronger, more connected, more impactful.” 

He urged attendees to “disrupt Google”, amplify Ogun’s tech story online, and enhance collaboration instead of isolation.

Inspirational Close: What Will You Build?

One of the most memorable reflections at Ogun Digital Summit 2025 came from a keynote speaker who linked today’s creators to historical innovators: “Your code, your content, your companies are the real printing presses of this generation.” 

The challenge was, “What infrastructure are you going to build today that the people of tomorrow will inherit from you?” 

PANEL SESSION HIGHLIGHTS

Panel Session 1: The Creative Economy

Key Highlights

• Defined the creative economy as the movement of goods and services within creative industries.
• Identified various creative sectors, including music, storytelling, photography, design, YouTube content, branding, and cinematography.
• Discussed the role of storytelling and its relevance to audience engagement.
• Raised matters about content creators ignoring policy updates that directly benefit them, including tax reforms and IP protection.
• Emphasised that Ogun has the strongest environment for creative-tech talent development.
• Called for more platforms that highlight policies affecting creators.

Fireside Chat: Journey from Zero to 1 Billion

Key Highlights

• Speakers discussed realistic planning for market size and expansion.
• Warned founders against exaggerated market assumptions that harm investor confidence.
• Emphasised calculating total addressable market (TAM) within one’s region before expanding.
• Explained the investment committee process and how risk assessments shape funding decisions.
• Encouraged founders to build strong roadmaps and avoid premature scaling.

Panel Session 2: Policy, Governance and Talent

Key Highlights

• Examined how data governance, digital payments and financial infrastructure affect tech growth.
• Highlighted existing federal and state programmes supporting innovators, including tech hubs and new digital infrastructure.
• Noted the gap between policies and actual adoption by citizens and creators.
• Stressed the need for intentional inclusion of youth-led tech teams in procurement and governance processes.
• Raised issues about low awareness of policy benefits, especially tax reforms.
• Reemphasised the importance of intellectual property protection.
• Asserted that Ogun should become Nigeria’s digital capital due to its youth population and number of tertiary institutions.

Ogun Digital Summit 2025 stressed that Ogun is no longer waiting for inclusion in Nigeria’s digital growth. The state is supplying talent, building institutions, attracting global partners and implementing policy-driven reforms designed to keep innovators rooted at home.

In Nigeria’s digital economy, Ogun State is now one of the country’s strongest engines.

The grand commissioning, held yesterday at the station’s headquarters in Idiogungun-Iragbiji, brought together political leaders, traditional rulers, and industry stakeholders. 

The cutting-edge facility was commissioned by the Executive Governor of Ekiti State, Mr Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Habibat Omolara Adubiaro.

In his comments, Barr. Abimbola Amusan, chief executive officer of King FM, said the launch was a fulfilment of promise, not just the unveiling of a radio and television station.

“King FM & TV is dedicated to public service broadcasting, fostering authentic community dialogue, and ensuring that every voice in Osun State has a platform,” Amusan stated. “Our philosophy, ‘Your Voice. Your Vibe.’, reflects our mission to blend entertainment with political discourse while empowering local narratives.”

Acting Station Manager, Feranmi Alokan, noted the station’s innovative programming and its role in connecting communities.

“Our facilities are designed not just for broadcasting, but for engagement,” Alokan said. “We’ve built programming that speaks directly to the people—especially the youth—offering empowerment content and creating spaces for citizen participation.”

Delivering the Governor’s message, Dr Adubiaro commended King Media and Communications Ltd for investing in Osun State.

“The launch of King FM & TV is a testament to the power of private enterprise in complementing governmental efforts towards community development and information dissemination,” the Governor’s statement read. “This initiative will serve as a beacon of authentic dialogue and enlightenment for our citizens.”

The event drew notable figures, including Sen. (Dr) Ajibola Basiru, National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC); Alhaji Jelili Adesiyan, former Minister of Police Affairs; Alhaji Otunba Kazeem Odeyeyiwa, Otun Bobagunwa of Modakeke; Alhaji Tajudeen Eniafe Lawal, Chairman, Osun State APC; HRM Oba Abdul Rasheed Ayotunde Olabomi, Aragbiji of Iragbiji; Oba James Bolarinwa Alani Oladipupo (Idi-Asa I), Alayegun of Ode Omu; and Oba Joseph Olubiyi Toriola, Ogunsua of Modakeke.

Guests toured the state-of-the-art studios, gaining a first-hand look at the technology and vision driving the new station. The day’s proceedings reinforced King Media’s commitment to innovation, local culture, and community service.

With its promise to serve as a trusted companion to residents, King FM & TV aims to become a leading voice in Osun State and beyond.