The Federal Government has announced plans to train and certify 10,000 artisans annually under the newly introduced National Artisan Skills Acquisition Programme (NASAP), aimed at addressing the growing demand for skilled labour in Nigeria’s housing sector.
The initiative was unveiled by the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arc. Ahmed Dangiwa, during the 6th National Council on Skills (NCS) meeting held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. The meeting was chaired by Vice President Senator Kashim Shettima.
Speaking at the event, Dangiwa said the programme is designed to deliver hands-on, market-relevant training to young Nigerians, describing it as a digital platform and “Uber-like hub” for artisans in the construction industry. He stressed that the scheme goes beyond training to include certification and job matching, with each artisan profiled in a national database.
“This is not just another training scheme,” Dangiwa said. “It’s a structured national effort to professionalise artisanship, improve construction quality, and provide a direct link between skills and job opportunities.”
The six-month training covers ten core construction trades including bricklaying, plumbing, electrical installations, carpentry, painting, welding, tiling, POP and screeding, upholstery, as well as air conditioning and refrigeration.
Existing Building Craft Training Schools in Kuje and Yaba will serve as training centres, with new facilities planned in Imo and Yobe states. The programme will be implemented in three phases: a pilot in 2025 targeting 3,000 artisans, nationwide rollout in 2026, and the establishment of Regional Centres of Excellence in 2027.
NASAP will run through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, with initial government funding to be supplemented by development agencies and private investors. Partners expected to collaborate include the World Bank, African Development Bank (AfDB), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), GIZ, JICA, and ESG aligned investors.
The Council also urged the Ministry to work closely with the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) to align NASAP’s curriculum with national certification standards.
Stakeholders at the meeting expressed optimism that the programme would enhance job creation, raise the quality of housing delivery, and reduce reliance on foreign artisans in Nigeria’s construction industry.
