By Michael Oche
The International Labour Organization (ILO) has kicked off an intensive eight-day “Transform Training of Trainers” (TOT) programme, aimed at closing the knowledge gaps that have slowed efficient and inclusive social protection delivery in Nigeria.
The ILO Country Director for Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, Dr Vanessa Phala who declared the training open on Monday in Abuja, underscored the importance of the training, the first of its kind to be held in Nigeria.
She said: “The training would help close capacity gaps among practitioners and enable them to translate policies into practical actions that improve social welfare outcomes.
“This initiative is about turning policy from paper to practice. It’s about giving Nigerians the competence to implement social protection that truly changes lives.”
Phala highlighted that the ILO, in collaboration with UNICEF, has been implementing social protection interventions across four states; Abia, Benue, Oyo, and Sokoto, making this the ideal time to introduce the Transform TOT.
She said, “This is the first time we are facilitating this training in Nigeria. We have done so much in the social protection space, from supporting the initial policy to the current revision of Nigeria’s social protection framework.
“We are here to capacitate our constituents so that as we develop and design social protection interventions, we do so from a well-informed position.”
Phala who praised participants for committing eight full days to the programme, said it was “an investment that will reinforce and enhance what you are already doing.”
She emphasized that the training would be context-specific, allowing facilitators and participants to adapt global knowledge to Nigeria’s unique challenges.
“Even though the training is in Nigeria for the first time, our facilitators are bringing vast insights from other countries where the programme has been successful. But we also want to learn from you, from your day-to-day experiences implementing these initiatives.
“This is complementary to what you are already doing. It reinforces our collective effort to ensure that social protection in Nigeria is not only well-designed but also effectively implemented.”
The Transform Hub Coordinator for Africa,
Felix Mwenge who explained that the TOT was designed to empower Nigerian trainers who would cascade the knowledge across states and institutions, identified three key capacity gaps in Nigeria’s social protection landscape:
“What we are doing here is building the capacity of local social protection experts and workers who will continue to train others across Nigeria.
“Social protection plays an important role in mitigating all these vulnerabilities of sections of the population. The challenge we have in Nigeria is that capacity is low. And what we mean by capacity is basically at three different levels.
“Policy development and strategic planning, implementation capacity, and public awareness and acceptance of social protection principles.
“Many still struggle to understand why supporting vulnerable people is essential. Social protection helps close the inequality gap. When we invest in lifting people out of poverty, harmony and stability follow.”
Mwenge further emphasized the need for increased government investment in social protection, “Nigeria needs to create fiscal space for social protection. The cost of not investing is far greater than the cost of action.”
The Project Manager for the Supporting Sustainable Social Protection Systems in Nigeria (SUSI) Emmanuel Danjuma, explained that one out of the four outputs for the SUSI project focuses on capacity building for policymakers and implementers.
He revealed that prior to the training, a capacity needs and gap assessment was conducted to identify weaknesses at both individual and institutional levels.
“Findings show a significant need for capacity strengthening across ministries, departments, and agencies with mandates in social protection.”
He added that a core objective of the project is to strengthen Nigeria’s National Social Register (NSR), which serves as a critical database for identifying and targeting vulnerable populations.
“We are working closely with the National Social Safety Nets Coordinating Office (NASSCO) to ensure that the register is updated and robust,” Danjuma added.
With Nigeria grappling with poverty, inequality, and limited institutional capacity, the initiative marks a crucial step toward building a resilient and inclusive social protection framework; one that leaves no one behind.
