Federal Government to Train 10,000 Artisans Every Year to Support Housing Sector
The Federal Government of Nigeria has launched a new plan to train and certify 10,000 artisans every year. This plan is part of the National Artisan Skills Acquisition Programme (NASAP), which is designed to improve the quality of housing in the country by creating a steady pool of skilled construction workers.
The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa, shared this plan during a meeting at the 6th National Council on Skills, chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. Dangiwa explained that NASAP aims to raise the standard of construction and address the problem of poor workmanship in both public and private housing projects.
He described NASAP as a “digital craft hub,” comparing it to a ride-hailing app like Uber — but instead of cars, it connects users to trained and verified artisans. After completing their training, these artisans will be registered on a digital platform where contractors, developers, and homeowners can find and hire them based on their location, trade, job ratings, and work history.
The minister stressed that NASAP is not just another training programme. It is a national project to make artisanship a respected profession and ensure that skills directly lead to employment. The training will last six months and include classroom learning, hands-on practice, mentorship, and experience on real job sites.
The programme will cover ten key construction trades:
- Bricklaying and masonry
- Plumbing and pipefitting
- Electrical installation
- Carpentry and woodwork
- Painting and decorative finishing
- Welding and fabrication
- Tiling and floor finishing
- POP and screeding
- Upholstery and furniture craft
- Air conditioning and refrigeration
Training will begin at existing centres in Kuje and Yaba, with new centres planned for Imo and Yobe States.
NASAP will roll out in three stages:
- 2025: Pilot phase in selected states, training 3,000 artisans
- 2026: Full nationwide rollout
- 2027: Creation of regional training centres called Centres of Excellence
The programme will run as a Public-Private Partnership. The government will provide initial funding and work with organisations like the World Bank, African Development Bank (AFDB), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), GIZ, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and other investors interested in supporting social and environmental goals.
After the presentation, the Council advised the Housing Ministry to work closely with the National Board for Technical Education. This partnership will help make sure that NASAP’s training and certification meet national standards.
With continued support from government agencies and development partners, NASAP could improve construction quality across Nigeria, reduce the country’s reliance on foreign workers, and create more job opportunities for Nigerian youth.
