The Federal Government has kick-started the training, certification, and job placement of 100,000 construction artisans across Nigeria.

The training will be implemented in partnership with Polaris Capital Limited, as formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Tuesday.

The three-year initiative will be funded through federal budget allocations, private sector investment, and donor contributions. It also includes a digital booking and verification platform that will connect artisans directly to job opportunities while generating revenue to sustain the programme beyond the MoU period.

The signing ceremony concluded with the official endorsement of the MoU by the Permanent Secretary of the Housing and Urban Development Ministry, Dr. Shuaib Belgore, on behalf of the Ministry and Vihishima on behalf of Polaris Capital Limited.

A statement by the Ministry said the development marked the launch of a nationwide initiative to bridge skills gaps in the housing and construction sector.

Belgore noted that the initiative is designed to modernise Nigeria’s construction workforce.

He highlighted that the programme would strengthen technical capacity, create sustainable employment for young people and artisans, and promote inclusivity by engaging women, youth, and persons with disabilities.

Trades included in the programme range from bricklaying and masonry, plumbing, electrical installations, carpentry, painting, welding, tiling, POP and screeding, upholstery, to air conditioning and refrigeration.

The pilot states and start date is yet to be announced at the time of reporting.

“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.

Polaris Capital Limited’s CEO, Kelvin Vihishima, described the partnership as a vital step toward reducing unemployment and reforming the housing industry. He noted that training and certification would help curb quackery in construction and make skilled manpower available nationwide.

The statement stressed that the pact reflects the Ministry’s commitment to skills development, job creation, and sustainable urban growth, anchored on accountability and long-term economic impact.

In June that the Federal Government, through the Ministry, planned to pilot the National Artisan Skills Acquisition Programme (NASAP) in 2025.

The pilot targeted 3,000 artisans for six months of intensive training across three selected states, covering 10 high-demand construction trades. The initiative is designed to equip Nigerian youth with practical, market-ready skills, improve housing quality, and address the shortage of skilled labour in the construction sector.

NASAP aims to professionalise artisanship, bridge the construction skills gap, and improve building standards nationwide. The programme will roll out in three phases: a 2025 pilot for 3,000 artisans, a nationwide scale-up in 2026, and the creation of Regional Centres of Excellence in 2027.