EU-Funded Vocational Training Programmes and Youth Employment in Kaduna State

This study assesses the impact of European Union-funded vocational training programmes on youth employment outcomes in Kaduna State, North-West Nigeria. Youth unemployment is one of Nigeria's most pressing socioeconomic challenges, and EU development interventions have included support for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions and skills development centres across Nigeria, including in Kaduna. This descriptive research examines a selection of EU-supported vocational training projects implemented in Kaduna between 2019 and 2024, drawing on project monitoring reports, tracer studies, and interviews with programme graduates, employers, and implementing partners. Data from Kaduna State Technical Education Board and the National Board for Technical Education (NABTEB) is used to situate the EU interventions within the broader TVET landscape. The study investigates whether EU vocational training beneficiaries have secured formal or informal employment relevant to their training, and identifies structural barriers, including access to start-up finance, weak labour market demand, and gendered participation patterns, that limit the employment impact of skills training. The research also examines how EU TVET programming aligns with Kaduna State's economic development priorities and industry demands in sectors such as light manufacturing, construction, and agro-processing. Findings will inform undergraduate understanding of European development cooperation in the education and employment sectors. Keywords: EU vocational training, youth employment, Kaduna State, TVET, skills development.