The Federal Government has revealed that close to 300,000 Nigerians have benefited from its skills development initiatives designed to enhance employability, promote entrepreneurship and stimulate economic growth across the country.
The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole, made the disclosure on Wednesday during the 17th National Council on Industry, Trade and Investment (NCITI) held in Enugu.
The meeting was convened under the theme, “Enhancing Competitiveness in Industry, Trade and Investment for Inclusive Growth and Global Market Integration.”
According to the minister, the programmes form part of the implementation of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, with a focus on expanding production, attracting investments, increasing exports and creating jobs.
Mrs Oduwole said the ministry had secured over 50 billion U.S. dollars in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) commitments, generated approximately 6.1 billion U.S. dollars in non-oil exports and registered more than 500,000 Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in its national database.
“The Bank of Industry has disbursed over N600 billion to businesses and nearly 300,000 Nigerians have been supported through skills programmes.
“Our focus remains on converting training into jobs, enterprise and sustainable economic growth,” she said.
Describing the council as a strategic platform for policy coordination, the minister said it would strengthen collaboration between the federal and state governments in advancing Nigeria’s economic transformation.
She noted that improving the country’s competitiveness would require greater efficiency in production, enhanced logistics, stronger market regulation and the attraction of quality investments.
Mrs Oduwole further explained that the ministry was implementing policies aimed at strengthening manufacturing, agro-processing, industrial clusters, special economic zones, technology and skills development.
She also highlighted the National Talent Export Programme (NATEP), saying it was positioning Nigerian professionals to take advantage of opportunities in the global services market.
The minister urged state governments to leverage their comparative advantages by developing productive industrial clusters and investment-ready projects through partnerships with private sector players and development organisations.
She also called on participants at the council to ensure that resolutions reached during the meeting were backed by clear implementation plans, measurable targets and defined timelines.
Also addressing the gathering, the Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, John Enoh, stressed that strengthening industrial competitiveness had become essential as global trends continued to reshape technology, trade, climate and manufacturing.
Mr Enoh said the Nigerian Industrial Policy 2025 offers a roadmap for positioning the industrial sector as a major driver of economic growth, value addition, employment generation and export competitiveness.
He added that Nigeria must reduce its dependence on exporting raw materials and instead prioritise domestic manufacturing and value addition.
In his remarks, Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State, represented by his deputy, Ifeanyi Ossai, advocated policies that would eliminate obstacles to investment and industrial development.
Mr Mbah identified improved access to finance, better infrastructure and effective implementation of economic policies as critical factors for enhancing Nigeria’s competitiveness.
Earlier, the Enugu State Commissioner for Trade, Investment and Industry, Sam Ogbu-Nwobodo, reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to sustaining a business-friendly environment capable of attracting investment and driving industrial expansion.
