Zeberced Group has unveiled plans to train 20,000 Nigerians in technical and vocational skills while creating about 40,000 direct jobs through what it describes as one of West Africa’s largest skills development and industrial empowerment initiatives.
The company also announced plans to establish a FIFA-approved football academy aimed at identifying, nurturing and developing talented children and youths for professional football careers at local and international levels.
The Managing Director of Zeberced Group, Mr. Adil Aydin Kurt, disclosed the plans during a courtesy visit by the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), FCT Council, led by its Chairman, Comrade Grace Ike, to the company’s facilities at the Abuja Industrial Park Free Zone.
According to Kurt, the proposed Technical and Vocational Training School will admit about 2,000 young Nigerians annually, producing an estimated 20,000 skilled graduates over the coming years.
He said the initiative would help bridge Nigeria’s skills gap while generating about 40,000 direct employment opportunities across various sectors.
“Zeberced is currently working on a vocational training school which will offer training in various fields to young Nigerians and, in the process, provide 40,000 direct jobs. This is going to be a sample project and is presently the biggest operation of its kind in West Africa,” Kurt said.
The institution will provide specialised training in Construction Technology, Machine and Design Technology, Motor Vehicle Technology, Plumbing Technology, Metal Technology, Furniture Technology, and Electrical and Electronics Technology.
Kurt said the school is designed to equip young Nigerians with practical, industry-focused skills that will enhance employability, encourage entrepreneurship and strengthen the country’s industrial workforce.
Reaffirming the company’s long-term commitment to Nigeria, he expressed confidence in Africa’s economic future.
“We are very serious about our work. I have many ideas and visions to share. We need to bring qualified people from different parts of the world to Nigeria because the future is Africa,” he said.
Beyond technical education, Kurt disclosed that Zeberced is also developing a FIFA-approved football academy that will serve as a platform for discovering and grooming young football talents.
He added that the company operates what it described as Africa’s first integrated mining quarry of its kind and continues to expand investments in manufacturing, construction and other strategic sectors.
Kurt also outlined plans to facilitate the establishment of hundreds of factories within the Idu Industrial Area to boost local manufacturing, reduce dependence on imports and create thousands of additional employment opportunities.
According to him, the industrial development initiative, which began about 15 years ago, has overcome numerous challenges through sustained investment and resilience.
He noted that Zeberced’s investments in manufacturing, furniture production, plastics and related industries, supported by modern infrastructure and advanced equipment, would contribute significantly to Nigeria’s industrialisation drive.
Responding, NUJ FCT Council Chairman, Comrade Grace Ike, commended the company for its commitment to youth empowerment, skills acquisition and national development.
She described the proposed vocational training institution and industrial expansion as timely interventions capable of reducing unemployment, promoting self-reliance among young Nigerians and supporting Nigeria’s economic diversification efforts.
Ike also briefed the management of Zeberced Group on the Council’s ongoing ultra-modern Congress Hall project, which she said has reached the decking stage.
She appealed for the company’s support towards completing the facility, noting that it would provide a permanent venue for congresses, professional training programmes and other official activities of the NUJ FCT Council.
In response, Kurt expressed Zeberced Group’s willingness to support the project, reaffirming the company’s commitment to partnerships that strengthen institutions and drive national development.
The visit ended with both organisations expressing optimism about forging a strategic partnership focused on industrial growth, youth development, professional capacity building and sustainable socio-economic development in Nigeria.
Zeberced Group has operated in Nigeria since 2007, with investments spanning manufacturing, construction, industrial infrastructure and human capital development.
