The Federal Government has unveiled plans to train and certify 10,000 artisans annuallyunder the National Artisan Skills Acquisition Programme (NASAP), a strategic initiativeaimed at bridging the skills gap in Nigeria’s housing and construction sector.
Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa, disclosed the details of the programme during his presentation at the 6th National Council on Skills meeting, chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Dangiwa described NASAP as a flagship intervention that combines digital innovation with skills development. “It is more than a training programme — it’s a national effort to professionalise artisanship, improve housing quality, and create sustainable jobs. It’s a digital craft hub, an ‘Uber for artisans’, that will make it easy to locate verified construction workers just like booking a ride,” he explained.
The initiative will digitally profile trained artisans on a national database, complete with information such as location, area of specialisation, work ratings, and job history. This will help build trust, improve visibility, and connect skilled workers directly with contractors, developers, and the general public.
NASAP will offer six-month intensive training in 10 high-demand construction trades: bricklaying and masonry, plumbing and pipefitting, electrical installation, carpentry and woodwork, painting and decorative finishes, welding and fabrication, tiling and floor finishing, POP and screeding, upholstery and furniture craft, and air conditioning and refrigeration.
Training will be conducted through existing craft schools in Kuje and Yaba, with new centres planned in Imo and Yobe States. The programme will roll out in three phases: pilot implementation in 2025 (targeting 3,000 artisans in select states), nationwide expansion in 2026, and the establishment of regional Centres of Excellence in 2027.
NASAP is designed to operate under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. The Ministry will provide seed funding and work with development partners such as the World Bank, African Development Bank (AfDB), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), GIZ, JICA, and ESG-focused investors to scale resources.
The National Council on Skills has recommended that the Housing Ministry align NASAP’s curriculum with national certification standards in partnership with the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE).
Dangiwa concluded that with inter-agency collaboration and sustained stakeholder engagement, NASAP could significantly improve housing delivery quality, generate employment, and reduce reliance on foreign artisans.
