Nigeria Talent Exploration Challenge to train young talents

The Nigeria Talent Exploration Challenge (NTEC) has been launched to empower young Nigerians with technical and vocational skills, aligning with the federal government’s push for economic growth through domestic production. Project Coordinator, Faisal Rafindadi, emphasised the initiative’s role in fostering innovation, self-sufficiency, and entrepreneurship among Nigerian youth. Speaking at the media launch in Abuja, Rafindadi […]

The Nigeria Talent Exploration Challenge (NTEC) has been launched to empower young Nigerians with technical and vocational skills, aligning with the federal government’s push for economic growth through domestic production.

Project Coordinator, Faisal Rafindadi, emphasised the initiative’s role in fostering innovation, self-sufficiency, and entrepreneurship among Nigerian youth.

Speaking at the media launch in Abuja, Rafindadi noted that NTEC, organised in collaboration with the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), is a strategic platform designed to harness and showcase the talents of young Nigerians between the ages of 15 and 40.

The programme encompasses diverse categories such as automotive modelling, art and craft design, ICT, technology and innovation, construction, literary arts, and poetry.

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“Our partnership with the NBTE underscores our commitment to excellence in technical education,” Rafindadi stated. “We aim to create a platform that inspires and empowers Nigerian youths to become leaders, innovators, and entrepreneurs. By investing in local talent, we are driving economic transformation and reducing dependency on imports.”

Rafindadi highlighted that the initiative builds on a model previously pioneered in Katsina State by Aminu Masari, former governor of Katsina State and chairman of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) Board. He noted that Masari’s earlier efforts had successfully trained over 10,000 youths in various technical and vocational skills, equipping them for economic self-sufficiency.

The secretary of the NBTE, Prof. Idris Bugaje, reinforced the importance of discovering and developing young talents to spur economic growth. “Young people in Nigeria and across Africa have immense potential that, if nurtured, can drive socioeconomic transformation. With proper support, we can harness these talents to produce locally-made vehicles and other innovations, reducing our reliance on imports,” Bugaje said.

Rafindadi further emphasised the significance of integrating NTEC with global and African skills competitions to provide young Nigerians with international exposure and opportunities. “We are not just identifying talent; we are creating a pathway for Nigerian youth to compete globally, bringing recognition and investment into the country,” he said.

Acknowledging the contributions of Aminu Masari and the project committee, former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Babangida Nguroje, commended the initiative as a crucial step towards economic diversification. “Identifying and nurturing talented youth will amplify government efforts to transition from an oil-dependent economy to a diversified one driven by innovation and technical skills,” he noted.