FG, Polaris Capital to Train and Certify 100,000 Artisans Nationwide

The Federal Government has launched a major skills development drive to train, certify, and connect 100,000 construction artisans to jobs across Nigeria.

The initiative, known as the National Artisan Skills Acquisition Programme (NASAP), was formally unveiled on Tuesday through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development and Polaris Capital Limited.

According to the Ministry, the three-year programme will be financed through federal budget allocations, private sector partnerships, and donor support. It will also deploy a digital platform to book, verify, and connect artisans with job opportunities — a system designed to sustain the scheme beyond the MoU period.

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Shuaib Belgore, signed on behalf of the Federal Government, while Kelvin Vihishima, CEO of Polaris Capital Limited, endorsed for the private partner.

In a statement, the Ministry described the signing as the official takeoff of a project aimed at bridging Nigeria’s long-standing skills gap in the housing and construction sector. “The Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development and Polaris Capital Limited have today, September 2nd, 2025, formalised a strategic partnership with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), to kick-start the National Artisan Skills Acquisition Programme (NASAP). NASAP is a nationwide intervention programme designed to train, certify, and digitally connect 100,000 artisans in priority construction trades to job opportunities across Nigeria,” the statement read in part.

Dr. Belgore explained that NASAP is not just about training but about modernising the country’s construction workforce. He noted that the scheme would “strengthen technical capacity, create sustainable employment for young people and artisans, and promote inclusivity by engaging women, youth, and persons with disabilities.”

Trades covered under the scheme include bricklaying, masonry, plumbing, electrical installations, carpentry, welding, painting, tiling, POP and screeding, upholstery, and air conditioning and refrigeration, among others.

On his part, Polaris Capital’s CEO described the partnership as both timely and essential. Vihishima said it represents “a vital step toward reducing unemployment and reforming the housing industry.” He added that professional training and certification would help eliminate quackery in construction while ensuring the availability of skilled manpower nationwide.

The Ministry also recalled that NASAP was first announced in June 2025, with plans to pilot the programme by training 3,000 artisans across three states. The pilot, scheduled to last six months, will cover ten high-demand construction trades.

NASAP is expected to roll out in three stages: a 2025 pilot, a nationwide scale-up in 2026, and the establishment of Regional Centres of Excellence in 2027. The long-term goal, officials say, is to professionalise artisanship, improve building standards, and enhance the overall quality of Nigeria’s housing sector.