Uganda's vocational assessment authority has travelled to Nigeria to learn from the National Business and Technical Examinations Board's approach to technical and vocational education, with both institutions eyeing a formal partnership to advance skills development across Africa.

The Uganda Vocational and Technical Assessment Board delegation arrived in Benin on Monday, with team leader Albert Akovuku stating that the visit was driven by NABTEB's decades of contribution to Nigeria's economic development and its relevance to Uganda's ongoing education reforms.

"We recognise NABTEB's decades long contribution to Nigeria's economic resilience, a journey that precedes and inspires Uganda's current transformation," Akovuku stated.

He disclosed that Uganda's reform agenda, anchored on Vision 2040, targets a shift from theory driven systems to a digital, industry led and competency based assessment model, adding that the engagement was expected to culminate in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding to formalise bilateral cooperation in skills development.

"We aspire to move beyond theory toward a system that empowers the workforce to solve real world problems," Akovuku added.

NABTEB Registrar Dr Aminu Muhammed welcomed the delegation, describing the visit as a significant step toward regional cooperation in technical education. He noted that discussions would cover assessment methodologies, industry certification linkages, and frameworks, including the Nigeria Skills Qualification Framework, as well as digital innovations aimed at strengthening examination integrity and delivery.

Muhammed expressed confidence that the engagement would produce a clear roadmap for sustained institutional partnership between Nigeria and Uganda, reflecting a shared commitment to positioning TVET as a driver of economic growth and youth empowerment across the continent.

The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, represented by Kolawole Osundeyi, described the visit as a demonstration of the value of regional collaboration in addressing skills gaps and unemployment on the continent.

"Africa's future prosperity depends on how effectively we equip our citizens with relevant and practical skills," the minister's representative stated, adding that partnerships of this nature were critical in responding to rapid technological changes and evolving labour market demands.