The Federal Government is set to launch the National Artisan Skills Acquisition Programme (NASAP) this year, a flagship initiative designed to enhance the skills of Nigerian youth and boost the nation’s construction sector. The program will kick off with a six-month intensive training for 3,000 artisans across three selected states, focusing on 10 high-demand construction trades.
NASAP aims to equip Nigerian youth with practical, market-ready skills, ultimately improving housing quality and addressing the critical shortage of skilled labor in the construction industry.
Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, Minister of Housing and Urban Development, officially presented NASAP to stakeholders at the 6th National Council on Skills, chaired by Vice President Senator Kashim Shettima, according to a Ministry statement released on Sunday. The Minister described NASAP as a key intervention under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, designed to professionalize artisanship and improve building standards nationwide.
The program will be implemented in three distinct phases:
- 2025 (Pilot): Training for 3,000 artisans in select states. The specific pilot states and start date are yet to be announced.
- 2026 (Nationwide Rollout): Expansion of the program across the country.
- 2027 (Regional Centres of Excellence): Establishment of dedicated training centers.
Minister Dangiwa highlighted that poor workmanship continues to compromise quality and safety in construction projects. He emphasized that NASAP is a “national effort to restore quality and connect skills to jobs.” Vice President Shettima lauded the initiative as timely and visionary, believing it can significantly address Nigeria’s persistent construction skills deficit if effectively implemented.
The six-month training curriculum will combine classroom instruction, hands-on practicals, mentorship, and jobsite exposure, focusing on these 10 high-demand construction trades:
- Bricklaying and Masonry
- Plumbing and Pipefitting
- Electrical Installations
- Carpentry and Woodwork
- Painting and Decorative Finishes
- Welding and Fabrication
- Tiling and Floor Finishing
- POP and Screeding
- Upholstery and Furniture Craft
- Air Conditioning and Refrigeration
A crucial component of NASAP is Craft-Hub, a digital platform designed to profile certified artisans. This platform will function much like a ride-hailing app, making it easy for developers, contractors, and the public to find and hire skilled professionals.
Training will initially be conducted at existing Building Craft Training Schools in Kuje and Yaba, with plans for new centers in Imo and Yobe States to expand capacity and reach more participants.
To ensure the program’s long-term sustainability, NASAP will operate under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) framework, with initial funding from the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development. Additional support is anticipated from international partners, including the World Bank, African Development Bank, United Nations Development Programme, German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and environmentally, socially, and governance (ESG)-aligned private investors.
Following the program’s presentation, the National Council on Skills advised the Ministry to work closely with the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) to ensure that NASAP’s curriculum fully aligns with national certification standards.
