Vocational Education and Training Partnership Nigeria

Duration: 12/2012 – 12/2018

German Project Executing Agency: Chamber of Industry and Commerce (CCI) Giessen-Friedberg

Administration: sequa gGmbH

Funding: German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)

Nigerian Partners: Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Ogun State Council of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (OGUNCCIMA), Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Nigerian-German Business Association (NGBA)

Regions: Abeokuta (Ogun State), Abuja and Lagos

Occupational Fields: Industrial Electronic, Industrial Mechanic, Technical Facility Management and Office Administration

Training Statistics:

In December 2018, the Vocational Education and Training Partnership (BBP) of the CCI Giessen-Friedberg in Nigeria was successfully concluded after 6 years. During his trip to Nigeria, Dr. Matthias Leder, Chief Executive Officer of the CCI Giessen-Friedberg, presented the Nigerian partners with a certificate for the trustful and good cooperation. "During the 6 years of this project, a total of 290 apprentices from 125 companies were supervised and, in addition, 310 trainers were trained. In turn, these trainers now train a total of around 3,000 trainees per year. 95% of the trainees have been taken on by the companies. Another major success is that the Nigerian government has officially recognized the curricula developed as part of the partnership," says Dr. Leder. Applying the dual vocational training in practice was the most important aspect for the project partners and the entrepreneurs. Today, they are so convinced of the benefits that they are eager to continue these elements in the future.

The vocational training partnership was financed by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and managed by the development organization sequa. Elements of the German dual vocational training system were transferred to the Nigerian system. The aim was to improve the quality of vocational training provided by Nigerian companies.

Theoretical teaching units combined with practical training improved the trainees' understanding of work contexts and how to apply them correctly. This resulted in a higher employability of Nigerian adolescents. It also improved the quality and performance of the participating companies. If you invest in appropriately trained workers and their skills, the entrepreneurs can increase their offerings along the value chain of a product, e.g. by taking on repairs and maintenance.

The project was implemented jointly with five Nigerian partners: three Nigerian Chambers of Commerce from the states of Abuja, Ogun and Lagos and two national business associations. As part of the partnership, curricula were developed for four professions, adapted to the Nigerian system: Industrial Electronics Technician, Industrial Mechanic, Facility Management and Administration. The person responsible at the CCI Giessen-Friedberg was Robert Malzacher, head of the International Department, together with his vocational training colleague Elke Ehlen. For the CCI, sustainable anchoring of the project results is crucial. Mr Malzacher said "There is still a long way to go to secure the successes in the long term and to help the many young people in other regions of Nigeria to obtain a solid education and thus a job. Introducing dual vocational training is like a Herculean task in a country like Nigeria."

Important on the ground for reliable implementation was the team of the Delegation of German Industry and Commerce (AHK) in Nigeria, at the time of the project led by Dr. Marc Lucassen in Lagos. The partnership also received additional support from Business Scout for Development Dr. Susanne Geipert, who is posted to the Hessian Chambers of Commerce and Industry on behalf of the BMZ and has her office in Giessen. She advises Hessian companies wishing to become involved in developing countries on support services offered by the German government and connects them with the relevant local players.

In the future, the Nigerian partners will be accompanied on their way by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH within the framework of a vocational training project. The CCI Giessen-Friedberg will also continue to provide its expertise.  The approximately 80 locally based German companies are supporting the Nigerian partners in their plan to further develop vocational training, because they depend on well-trained local skilled workers.

The CCI Giessen-Friedberg has been the nationwide Competence Center for Nigeria since 2005. With 190 million inhabitants, the West African state is the most populous country and the second largest economy in Africa. The population is comparatively young, with over 60% of the population under the age of 24. Two-thirds of the people live in extreme poverty and about 40 % of the working-age population is either unemployed or underemployed. Because of its population and resource wealth, Nigeria is an economically important country for the entire West African region. However, the political and economic challenges are diverse. Nigeria's central economic sectors include the oil industry, telecommunications, agriculture and the film industry.