Nigeria is set to introduce a two-year diploma programme in artificial intelligence applications as part of an expanded technical education partnership with Singapore, the Federal Government has announced.
Education Minister Dr Tunji Alausa disclosed the development in a statement on X, following recent talks with Singapore’s High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr Lim Sim Seng, in Abuja.
The collaboration builds on agreements reached during the minister’s visit to Singapore late last year and represents a significant expansion of bilateral cooperation in technical and vocational education and training (TVET).
Key Partnership Deliverables
Under the agreement, Singapore’s Institute of Technical Education Education Services (ITEES) will work with Nigerian authorities to design and roll out the AI diploma across technical institutions nationwide.
“We will collaborate on the development and implementation of a two-year technical diploma in AI applications across institutions in the country,” Dr Alausa stated.
The partnership also includes capacity-building initiatives targeting institutional leadership and teaching quality. ITEES will provide leadership training for 40 heads of technical institutions and run a Train-the-Trainer programme focused on assessment methods and teaching approaches.
Additionally, the collaboration will introduce the Global Excellence Model for Skills Training—a framework that will assess Nigerian TVET institutions across seven performance dimensions.
Expanding Beyond Traditional Trades
The AI diploma marks a notable shift in Nigeria’s TVET strategy, moving beyond conventional trades to incorporate cutting-edge digital competencies into the technical education system.
The initiative aligns with Singapore’s reputation for building skills-driven economies through structured vocational pathways, industry collaboration and sustained investment in technical training.
Background and Momentum
The announcement follows Dr Alausa’s engagements in Singapore in late 2025, where he toured ITE campuses and held discussions with education officials on renewing and strengthening Nigeria’s agreement with the National Board for Technical Education.
Those talks centred on quality assurance, leadership development and integrating advanced technical programmes such as AI into Nigeria’s skills ecosystem.
The push comes amid broader TVET reforms that have gained significant traction. In early 2025, a government TVET initiative attracted over 90,000 applications within its first week, signalling strong public interest in skills training.
Ongoing TVET Transformation
Federal authorities have been actively overhauling Nigeria’s technical education sector through policy changes and new programmes.
In 2025, the government launched a nationwide TVET initiative encouraging vocational centres, training facilities and master craftspersons to register for accreditation and access funding. The reforms also shifted TVET curricula to an 80% practical, 20% theory model to better align training with labour market needs.
Results have been evident in enrolment figures, with TVET entrance exam participation surging nearly 300% in 2025 compared to the prior year.
The government has also introduced stipends for technical college trainees, upgraded facilities and recently began enforcing biometric attendance verification across TVET centres to enhance transparency and reduce fraud.
Singapore’s involvement is expected to further strengthen these efforts by introducing international best practices and performance benchmarks into Nigeria’s expanding technical education landscape.
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