From Inclusion To Action: Making Tvet Work For Women

In recent years, Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) has gained renewed attention in Nigeria’s efforts to tackle unemployment, boost productivity, and strengthen economic growth. Inasmuch as a skilled workforce is essential for national development, one critical reality remains largely unresolved: the persistent underrepresentation of women in technical education and skilled trades such as electrical installation, construction trades, automotive technology, welding, and industrial mechanics. Where women are present in TVET, they are often concentrated in traditionally “feminine” skills areas like fashion design, catering, and cosmetology.

According to UNESCO, only 35 percent of TVET students in Nigeria are female. This imbalance is not merely an issue of personal preference, but a reflection of systemic structural barriers rooted in cultural stereotypes, economic constraints, limited exposure to technical careers, male-dominated training environments, and policy gaps.

For Nigeria to fully harness the potential of TVET, it must move beyond generic skills policies to adopt effective inclusive TVET frameworks that intentionally address the unique barriers women face.

Inclusion goes beyond simply making opportunities available. It demands removing these barriers that prevent women from entering, participating, and thriving in technical education. The underrepresentation of women in TVET is not only a social concern but an economic issue with far-reaching implications. When women lack access to technical skills, household incomes remain limited, economic dependence persists, workforce productivity declines, and industrial growth slows. Conversely, empowering women with technical competencies reduces poverty and strengthens national competitiveness. Investing in women’s skill development is therefore not just a matter of fairness; it is a strategic necessity for national progress.

To translate inclusion into tangible outcomes, Nigeria must adopt targeted, practical measures that address women’s realities. Firstly, there must be early exposure to technical and vocational education. Many girls are never introduced to technical career pathways during their formative years. Career orientation programs when effectively implemented in primary schools can reshape perceptions and encourage girls to see technical fields as viable and rewarding options.

Financial barriers also remain a major constraint. Training costs, equipment requirements, and limited funding opportunities disproportionately affect women. Scholarships, grants, and startup support schemes specifically designed for female TVET participants can significantly improve enrollment, retention, and post-training success.

Another important area of action is the creation of safe and inclusive training environments. Women must be able to learn in spaces that are secure, supportive, and free from discrimination. Gender-responsive facilities, inclusive institutional cultures, and anti-harassment policies must be introduced and implemented to encourage female participation.

Mentorship and role model visibility in TVET should be strengthened. The presence of successful women in technical fields plays a powerful role in inspiring participation. Increasing the number of female instructors, mentors, and industry leaders within TVET systems can help build confidence and sustained engagement among female trainees.

TVET programs must ensure that women gain skills that are not only accessible but economically viable. Expanding female participation into high-growth sectors such as renewable energy, digital technology, construction, and industrial trades are pivotal. When women are limited to low-income skill sectors, the broader goal of economic empowerment remains incomplete. True inclusion must therefore focus on enabling women to participate fully in both emerging and high-value technical industries.

Flexible learning structures should also be considered. Many women balance education with family responsibilities, making rigid training schedules a barrier to participation. Flexible program delivery can significantly improve access and completion rates.

Making TVET work for women requires collective action of various stakeholders. Government must develop clear guidelines and standards for gender-responsive TVET policies, establish monitoring frameworks to track progress, address challenges, and ensure sustained funding for implementation.

The private sectors must provide inclusive apprenticeships, workplace training opportunities, and employment pathways for women in technical fields.

Educational institutions must actively promote female participation through outreach programs, mentorship initiatives, and inclusive institutional cultures. Communities and families, too, must challenge long-standing cultural stereotypes that discourage girls from pursuing technical careers.

True transformation will only occur when gender inclusion in TVET becomes a shared national priority.

Nigeria’s aspirations for economic diversification, industrial growth, and sustainable development cannot be achieved while a significant portion of its population remains underrepresented in technical education. Moving from inclusion to action requires a shift in perspective – from viewing women’s participation in TVET as an optional social goal to recognizing it as a fundamental driver of national development. When women gain access to technical skills, they do not only transform their own lives, but strengthen families, boost local economies, and contribute meaningfully to national productivity.

Making TVET work for women is therefore not merely an educational reform. It is a pathway to inclusive growth, economic resilience, and a more equitable future for Nigeria.

Ejinkeonye-Christian, a certified life coach, and business educator, is the CEO of Phebeon Consulting and Media Solutions Ltd, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria (+234(0)708-048-0510; [email protected]).