By Ngozi Nwankwo
As part of efforts to strengthen monitoring, transparency, compliance, and programme delivery ahead of the commencement of Cohort 2, The Federal Ministry of Education has commenced a two-day capacity-building workshop for State Project Monitoring Officers (PMOs) under the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Programme.
The workshop, themed “Strengthening Monitoring, Compliance and Programme Delivery for Cohort 2 Implementation,” brings together State PMOs from across the country to enhance their capacity to effectively monitor training centres, support implementation processes, and ensure that beneficiaries receive quality skills training under the Federal Government’s flagship TVET initiative.
Speaking at the opening of the workshop in Abuja, the National Coordinator of Special Programmes under the Minister of Education, Adebayo Onigbanjo, described the training as a critical step towards consolidating the gains of the programme and ensuring that implementation standards are maintained across the country.
According to him, the State PMOs serve as the eyes and ears of the Ministry in the field, with responsibility for monitoring accredited training centres, validating compliance with programme guidelines, and ensuring that trainees receive quality instruction that aligns with national objectives.
”TVET is one of the key pillars of the Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative (NESRI) and one of the flagship programmes designed to equip Nigerians with practical, industry-relevant, and employable skills,” Onibanjo said.
He explained that the workshop was designed to ensure that all monitoring officers are fully aligned on their responsibilities and equipped with the knowledge required to support training centres effectively.
Onibanjo noted that participants are being trained on the operation of biometric registration systems deployed across training centres to strengthen data integrity, beneficiary verification, and accountability within the programme.
”Transparency remains at the heart of the TVET initiative. We are deliberately leveraging technology while maintaining human oversight to ensure accountability at every stage of implementation. Every trainee is biometrically registered, and all payments are made directly to beneficiaries’ bank accounts, thereby eliminating opportunities for abuse and ensuring that support reaches the intended recipients,” he stated.
Onibanjo further revealed that with more than 1,600 accredited training centres spread across the country and present in nearly every local government area, the role of State PMOs has become increasingly important in ensuring compliance, quality assurance, and timely resolution of operational challenges.
Also speaking, the National Project Monitoring Officer for TVET and IDEAS, Odewunmi Olatunji, said the engagement provides an opportunity to review lessons learned from the first phase of implementation and prepare stakeholders for a more effective rollout of Cohort 2.
He explained that beyond strengthening monitoring and reporting systems, the workshop creates a platform for direct interaction between national and state-level officers, enabling them to identify challenges encountered during the first phase and collectively develop practical solutions.
”This engagement allows us to receive feedback from officers who are directly involved in implementation at the state level. Their experiences are invaluable in helping us address gaps, improve coordination, and ensure that challenges encountered during the first phase are not repeated in the next cycle,” Olatunji said.
He added that the workshop also brings together critical stakeholders involved in programme implementation, including officials of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), representatives of the biometric registration service providers, and other collaborating partners, to ensure alignment ahead of the commencement of Cohort 2.
According to him, discussions during the workshop cover funding processes, payments to training centres and beneficiaries, compliance requirements, reporting frameworks, accreditation processes, and strategies for improving programme performance nationwide.
The Federal Ministry of Education reaffirmed its commitment to building a skilled workforce capable of driving national development through quality technical and vocational education, noting that effective monitoring and accountability remain central to the success and sustainability of the TVET programme.
The workshop is expected to produce a unified monitoring framework and strengthen collaboration among stakeholders as preparations intensify for the launch of Cohort 2 across the country.