The Federal Government is taking another major step in its partnership with Singapore as both nations prepare to introduce a two-year diploma focused on artificial intelligence applications in Nigerian technical institutions. The initiative was confirmed in a statement shared on X by the Minister of Education, Maruf Tunji Alausa, who said ongoing talks are now entering an advanced stage.
He explained that he recently hosted Lim Sim Seng, Singapore’s High Commissioner to Nigeria, to continue discussions on implementing key areas of cooperation. “We will collaborate on the development and implementation of a two-year technical diploma in AI applications across institutions in the country,” he noted.
The programme will be supported by Singapore’s Institute of Technical Education Education Services, known as ITEES, which will guide the design and rollout of the new curriculum. The plan signals a shift in Nigeria’s TVET agenda, as the government aims to expand technical learning beyond traditional trades and move towards advanced digital skills.
A New Phase in Nigeria’s TVET Overhaul
The minister’s announcement ties back to a visit he undertook to Singapore in late 2025, where he met with senior education officials and toured campuses under the country’s respected Institute of Technical Education. Those engagements were centred on strengthening bilateral cooperation, especially in curriculum quality, leadership development and training standards.
The upcoming AI diploma fits neatly into that broader vision. It is expected to form part of a renewed agreement between ITEES and Nigeria’s National Board for Technical Education. The new phase focuses on quality assurance reforms, train-the-trainer programmes and the introduction of advanced modules that support Nigeria’s ambitions in the digital economy.
According to the statement, the partnership also includes a leadership training scheme for 40 Nigerian heads of technical institutions, alongside a detailed Train-the-Trainer programme. These sessions will cover modern pedagogy, assessment methods and industry-aligned approaches to teaching.
Singapore’s Global Excellence Model to Be Adopted
Beyond the diploma, the collaboration will introduce the Global Excellence Model for Skills Training. Under this framework, Nigerian TVET institutions will be assessed across seven dimensions of excellence. The goal is to establish a clear, measurable system for raising standards nationwide.
The minister described this as a crucial step towards improving governance, training quality and institutional performance. Singapore’s consistent investment in technical education, strong industry partnerships and structured vocational pathways continue to make it a global reference point for skills development.
Nigeria’s drive to modernise its TVET system follows a surge of interest from young people. Earlier in 2025, a government-backed TVET rollout received more than 90,000 applications in its first week, signalling growing demand for formal technical learning and digital competence.
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