The Federal Government’s ambitious initiative to train five million Nigerians each year in artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, and advanced digital technologies has garnered significant support from the Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies (MINILS).
The institute asserts that this initiative has the potential to revolutionize Nigeria’s workforce and prepare the nation for the future of work.
Highlighting the necessity for comprehensive reforms in education and the labor market to ready Nigerians for the AI era, Issa Aremu, the Director-General of MINILS, pointed out that discussions are at an advanced stage between the institute and the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy.
This collaboration aims to bolster the ministry’s workforce development program, equipping millions of Nigerians with essential digital skills.
While speaking in Geneva, Switzerland, during the 114th Session of the International Labour Conference (ILC), Aremu characterized the initiative as a strategic response to the swiftly evolving global labor market, which is increasingly influenced by artificial intelligence and emerging technologies.
He explained that the program is intended to educate workers, government officials, and employers about AI, robotics, and other advanced technologies, while simultaneously creating job opportunities for youth and fostering national economic growth.
”The rapid advancement of AI necessitates that labor education becomes more adaptable and dynamic, moving away from previously rigid frameworks.
We must prioritize continuous adaptation, AI literacy, machine learning ethics, and data science if Nigeria is to maintain its competitiveness in the global economy,” he stated.
Aremu urged for ongoing reforms in Nigeria’s educational system and labor market institutions to ensure that workers not only develop technical skills but also acquire emotional intelligence and lifelong learning abilities essential for thriving in the digital age.
He expressed his views in response to the report delivered by the Director-General of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), Gilbert F. Houngbo, at the 2026 International Labour Conference, which is centered around the theme, “A Moment of Choice: Harnessing Artificial Intelligence for Decent Work.”
In the report, Houngbo noted that although AI possesses significant potential to create opportunities and transform work on a global scale, it also introduces substantial challenges that necessitate intentional policy decisions and social dialogue.
The ILO Director-General emphasized the necessity for governments to invest in skill development, enhance labor and social protection systems, support small and medium-sized enterprises, and uphold fundamental principles and rights at work to ensure that technology benefits humanity.
Aremu, a member of the Nigerian government’s delegation to the conference, which is led by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi, praised the ILO for what he characterized as a balanced and realistic evaluation of the opportunities and risks linked to artificial intelligence.
He stated that Nigeria aligns with the ILO’s perspective that while nations should leverage the productivity and innovation advantages of AI, they must also guarantee that technological progress does not compromise workers’ rights, social inclusion, and the principles of decent work.
