INTRODUCTION

The Nigeria Skills Training and Vocational Education Project (STVEP) is based on the Federal Government of Nigeria’s poverty reduction initiatives which, among others, seek to expand access to basic, non-formal and vocational skills education. Consequent upon a request from the Nigerian Government, the African Development Bank (ADB) conducted identification, preparation and appraisal missions during which detailed discussions were held with the Government between 2004 – 2005, on the main objectives, design and institutional arrangements for the successful implementation of the proposed project. Thus, an ADF loan of UA 30 million, amounting to 89% of the total project costs, will be used to finance 97.89% of the foreign exchange (UA 23.20 million) and 67.93% of the local cost (UA 6.80 million). This, therefore, indicates that the proposed project will be jointly financed by the ADF loan (UA 30 million) and the Federal Government of Nigeria (UA 3.71 million), amounting to a total cost of UA 33.71 million, for a duration of five (5) years (Jan. 2006 – Dec. 2011).


2.0 NBTE’S OBLIGATIONS IN THE PROJECT

The obligations of NBTE in the project were spelt out as follows:

(i) Develop and review curriculum for Technical Colleges in Nigeria;
(ii) Develop and publish Technical Textbooks, training manuals and best practices lessons in ICT;
(iii) Train Technology teachers for capacity building;
(iv) Accredit all vocational programmes in Technical Colleges;
(v) Send quarterly report of activities to the project steering committee through the Project Manager; and
(vi) Carry out other activities as may be determined by the project and as more particularly specified in the project appraisal report.

3.0 BENEFITTING INSTITUTIONS

The project has been designed for the benefit of ten (10) institutions, out of which five (5) are Federal Science & Technical Colleges under the jurisdiction of the Board as listed below:

1) Federal Science & Technical College, Orozo in Abuja
2) Federal Science & Technical College, Ikare-Akoko in Ondo
3) Federal Science & Technical College, Uyo in Awa-Ibom
4) Federal Science & Technical College, Lassa in Borno
5) Federal Science & Technical College, Ohanso in Abia

The remaining five (5) benefitting institutions are:

1) Women Development Center in Abuja
2) University of Nigeria in Nsukka
3) Federal College of Education (Technical) in Akoka
4) Nomadic Center, Ladugga in Kaduna
5) Nomadic Center, Km 26 in Kaduna

4.0 PROJECT STEERING COMMITTEE (PSC)

A Project Steering Committee (PSC) and a Project Coordinating Unit (PCU) were established, with the latter empowered to manage daily implementation activities. The PSC consists of nine (9) members among whom is the Executive Secretary of the Board, under the Chairmanship of the Honourable Minister of Education.