The Federal Government has partnered with Polaris Capital Limited to train, certify, and place 100,000 construction artisans over the next three years, a move intended to address the skills gap in Nigeria’s housing and construction sectors.
The initiative, formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), is a major step in the National Artisan Skills Acquisition Programme (NASAP).
The program’s funding will come from federal budget allocations, private sector investment, and donor contributions. A core feature of the initiative is a digital booking and verification platform that will connect certified artisans directly to jobs while also generating revenue to keep the program running long-term.
According to Dr. Shuaib Belgore, the Permanent Secretary of the Housing and Urban Development Ministry, this effort is designed to modernize Nigeria’s construction workforce, create jobs, and promote inclusivity by engaging women, youth, and persons with disabilities.
The training will cover a wide range of trades, including bricklaying, plumbing, electrical installations, carpentry, welding, painting, tiling, upholstery, and air conditioning. Kelvin Vihishima, CEO of Polaris Capital, said the partnership is a vital step toward reducing unemployment and will help curb “quackery” in the industry by making skilled and certified workers available nationwide.
The NASAP will be rolled out in three phases. A pilot program for 3,000 artisans will begin in 2025 across three selected states, with a nationwide scale-up planned for 2026. The final phase in 2027 will see the creation of Regional Centres of Excellence to further professionalize artisanship and improve building standards across the country. The specific pilot states and start date have not yet been announced.
