FG, World Bank flag off sponsored vocational training for 280 early childhood care practitioners in Lagos

The Federal Ministry of Education, through its World Bank-supported Innovation Development and Effectiveness in the Acquisition of Skills (IDEAS) Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) project, in collaboration with The Nanny Academy, Heritage House Montessori Centre, and DoorwayAfrica 360, will on Wednesday, November 18, 2026, officially flag off a fully sponsored vocational training programme for 280 trainees in Early Childhood Care, Development and Education (ECCDE).

The flag-off ceremony, scheduled to take place at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Victoria Island, marks the commencement of a government- and World Bank-backed skills development initiative aimed at equipping participants with the practical knowledge and competencies required to provide professional early childhood care and education services.The programme reflects growing recognition of the importance of the early years in shaping children’s intellectual, physical, social, and emotional development, as well as the need to build a qualified workforce capable of supporting this critical stage of human development.

Through this strategic partnership, the Federal Ministry of Education, the World Bank, and the three accredited Training Service Providers (TSPs) seek to strengthen the capacity of individuals pursuing careers in childcare and early childhood education, while creating clear pathways toward employment and entrepreneurship in the care sector.

Participants will benefit from tuition-free vocational training designed to develop relevant, market-ready practical skills for working with young children across diverse care and learning environments. The initiative also promotes standardized professional benchmarks in a sector where the quality of care and practitioner competence have direct implications for children’s wellbeing.The involvement of the Federal Ministry of Education and the World Bank under the IDEAS-TVET framework underscores the national commitment to closing skills gaps and expanding access to practical training opportunities.

Speaking on the broader IDEAS-TVET mandate, the project leadership emphasized that the initiative is designed “to enhance the capacity of the Nigerian skills development system to produce relevant skills for the formal and informal sectors,” noting that Nigeria’s economy “does not need more certificates. It needs more competence. That is why this programme is deliberately practical.”Each implementing partner brings specialized expertise to the delivery of the curriculum. Heritage House Montessori Centre brings its experience in Montessori education and early childhood teacher training, while The Nanny Academy contributes its specialization in professional childcare training. DoorwayAfrica 360 brings practical, play-based, and experiential learning into the classroom, equipping educators with the skills to design and create hands-on instructional resources and manipulatives.

The flag-off ceremony is expected to bring together representatives of the Federal Ministry of Education, the IDEAS Project management team, the World Bank, the participating Training Service Providers, education stakeholders, and invited guests.According to the Federal Ministry of Education, its broader TVET initiative—delivered in partnership with the World Bank—is designed to close skills gaps, promote self-reliance, and build a skilled, employable workforce across high-demand sectors of the economy. With 280 trainees set to begin their internship training having completed their academic training, the ECCDE initiative represents a major milestone in strengthening Nigeria’s pool of certified childcare practitioners while highlighting the economic and social value of professional care work.