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The Federal Government, through the Ministry of Steel Development, has successfully concluded the first edition of its Bootcamp Training Programme, equipping 535 Nigerian youths with practical skills in welding and fabrication, industrial foundry, metallurgy, and mechanical maintenance.
The initiative is aimed at building a workforce capable of revitalizing Nigeria’s steel and metal sectors and, by extension, driving national industrial growth.
According to Tine-Iulun M.A, Assistant Director of Information and Public Relations, the intensive training concluded with a formal closing ceremony on Friday, May 23, 2025, at the Metallurgical Training Institute (MTI), Onitsha, Anambra State. The Honourable Minister of Steel Development, Prince Shuaibu Abubakar Audu, presided over the event and described the programme as a critical step in the government’s strategy to transform Nigeria into a self-reliant, industrialized economy.
“The bootcamp was not just about skills acquisition,” Prince Audu said. “It was about character building, discipline, and fostering a spirit of innovation, entrepreneurship, and national service. We aim to build a pool of competent, patriotic young Nigerians who will drive the steel sector forward.”
The Minister emphasized that the programme aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision of building a $1 trillion economy by 2030. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to investing in human capital as a foundation for sustainable industrial development.
Prince Audu also praised the efforts of MTI staff and facilitators from the Ministry, commending their dedication to creating a supportive and technically sound training environment. He charged the graduates to become ambassadors of the programme and pioneers of a new wave of industrial revitalization. “Let your starter packs mark the beginning of a journey into productivity, creativity, and national impact,” he urged.
In his goodwill message, Anambra State Governor Prof. Charles Soludo, represented by Commissioner for Industry Christine Udechukwu, applauded the Ministry’s efforts to empower youth with job-creating skills.
Similarly, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Steel, Senator Patrick Ndubueze—represented by Chief Etiebat Nwachukwu—called for the training to become an annual intervention, assuring that the National Assembly would provide legislative support for its continuity.
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Chris Osa Isokpunwu, described the programme as a platform to ignite dreams and build a new generation of entrepreneurs within the metal and steel value chain. Sharing the success story of a northern Nigerian youth who grew a one-man metalwork business into a company employing over 150 people across West Africa, Dr. Isokpunwu told graduates: “This is where your journey truly begins.”
Director of the Metallurgical Inspectorate Department, Engr. Frederick Ewa, provided an overview of the programme, revealing that 258,833 applications were received nationwide. From this pool, 700 youths were selected through a transparent, merit-based process and trained in four intensive batches at MTI Onitsha.
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He described the initiative as “a movement—a clarion call to catalyze the rebirth of Nigeria’s steel and metals industry.”
Speaking on behalf of the trainees, General Course Representative Esemuede Omoruyi expressed gratitude to the Federal Government for its commitment to youth development and pledged that the graduates would become “dynamic contributors to a skilled, innovative, and industrious Nigeria.”
