In a country where joblessness, crime, and frustration weigh heavily on young people, one quiet effort is demonstrating that real partnerships—not empty promises—can change lives. This is how the Institute for Industrial Technology (IIT) is helping to rescue Nigeria’s future.
In my recent article in BusinessDay, titled “The IIT Model: Fixing Nigeria’s Education-to-Employment Pipeline”, I explained how IIT is addressing the disconnect between academic curricula and industry requirements, equipping young people with practical skills that lead to real jobs.
Transforming lives through technical education
For over two decades, IIT, a project of the African Development Foundation (ADF), has been breaking the cycle of poverty and youth unemployment. The institution admits economically disadvantaged youth, aged 16 to 23, into a rigorous three-year programme focused on technical and life skills development. These young men are transformed into highly employable tradesmen, equipped to work in engineering, electrotechnics, and other industrial sectors.
The power of strategic partnerships
Each year, 48 school leavers are admitted on scholarship, thanks to the generosity of individuals and organisations. Some are supported by individuals like Tony Oputa, who sponsors a student annually, or the J.B. Kushimo family, whose legacy funds the training of four students every year in memory of their patriarch. Others benefit from the continued commitment of groups like the 198 Club of Nigeria and corporate sponsors such as Tincan Island Container Terminal Ltd, Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc, and Cummins West Africa. Additional support comes from generous benefactors like Deloitte Nigeria, Orion Engineering Services, and alumni networks who understand the long-term value of investing in human capital.
This synergy between the institute and its partners is not just philanthropic; it is strategic nation-building. When Cummins West Africa partnered with IIT as its only recognised developmental partner, the company didn’t just donate equipment—it co-developed the Electrotechnics curriculum, ensuring it reflects current industry needs, and regularly trains IIT instructors to maintain world-class teaching standards. Cummins also donated a high-capacity generator to power IIT’s workshops and supplied modern technical training equipment to enhance hands-on learning. In doing so, Cummins did not just believe in IIT’s mission; they invested in it. Their support has multiplied the institute’s impact, proving that when businesses walk the talk, real transformation follows.
A call for educational institutions to emulate IIT
The success of IIT highlights the urgent need for Nigerian universities and government-owned technical colleges to adopt similar models or collaborate with institutions like IIT. For too long, these institutions have focused solely on theoretical instruction, producing graduates armed with degrees but lacking employable skills. The result is a mismatch between what industries require and what institutions supply. It is time for a shift. Nigerian universities and technical colleges must either borrow a leaf from IIT’s playbook or collaborate directly with institutions like IIT to co-train students. What do you think the impact would be if NYSC or SIWES placements were redesigned to partner with IIT’s model—where students receive intensive, hands-on training alongside real-life industry mentorship? The results would have been impressively positive on the nation. That is how we build a generation that is not just credentialed but competent. Nigeria does not just need more graduate; we need more capable graduates.
As Mr Chris Itua, Head of Industrial Services at IIT, aptly puts it, “Our collaboration with industry leaders ensures that our students are not only technically proficient but also industry-ready from day one.”
David Okechukwu, Director at IIT, emphasises the importance of such partnerships: “By aligning our curriculum with industry needs, we bridge the gap between education and employment, providing our students with a clear pathway to success.”
Sustaining impact and promoting gender equity
IIT’s vision is expansive. Beyond training young men, the institute plans to empower a minimum of 40 young women graduates every year with technical training to bridge the gender gap in industrial workspaces. However, this dream is often curtailed—not due to lack of resolve, but due to lack of scholarship funding. Gender equity in technical education cannot remain a slogan; it must be financed into reality.
To sustain its impact, IIT operates a dual model: offering short-term training and technical services to industries to generate funds and constantly seeking donations—from corporations, NGOs, and well-meaning individuals—for scholarships, teacher training, modern equipment, and maintenance. Every naira, every tool, and every hour of corporate engagement contribute to saving a youth from the streets and placing them in the workforce.
Dr Kingsley Ayozie, an industry leader, underscores the significance of IIT’s approach: “Institutions like IIT are pivotal in shaping a workforce that meets the evolving demands of our industries. Their emphasis on practical skills and ethical values sets a benchmark for others to follow.”
Education with integrity
IIT’s approach to education is holistic. It trains not only hands but minds and hearts. Rooted in the ideals of St Josemaria Escriva, the founder of Opus Dei, the institute places strong emphasis on integrity, discipline, and service. It is education with soul. It is skills with a conscience. And in a country where the moral compass has gone haywire in many quarters, this matters – a lot.
A clarion call to action
We often ask what the solution to Nigeria’s youth crisis is. The answer is not far-fetched. It is in scaling what already works. IIT works. And it works because of committed partnerships. Institute for Industrial Technology
So, here is a clarion call to corporates, philanthropists, and policymakers: The IIT model is not just a social project; it is a national imperative. Every scholarship is a bullet dodged, a crime prevented, and a future rescued. Support IIT not as charity, but as a strategic investment in Nigeria’s stability, productivity, and peace.
If you have voiced concerns about the escalating crime rates, lamented the deficiency of skilled labour in our industries, or felt the weight of the growing number of unemployed graduates adrift in uncertainty, then consider this a pivotal moment for action. Instead of merely observing these challenges, actively participate in creating solutions. Explore opportunities to partner with institutions like IIT, not just as a charitable act, but as a strategic investment in our nation’s future.
By providing scholarships, offering mentorship, or contributing resources, you can directly empower young Nigerians to transition from vulnerability to productivity. Let’s build a workforce that not only possesses technical expertise but also embodies ethical values and a strong sense of purpose. This is our chance to foster a society where industry triumphs over idleness, character over crime, and skill over mere survival.
By supporting initiatives that bridge the gap between education and employment, we are not just offering a lifeline to individuals; we are strengthening the bedrock of our nation’s prosperity and stability. Let’s collaboratively forge a future where every young person has the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to Nigeria’s growth.
