The Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) Giessen-Friedberg, Germany has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting vocational education, entrepreneurship, and institutional development in Nigeria through continued bilateral cooperation and private-sector partnerships.
Dr. Matthias Leder, CEO of IHK Giessen-Friedberg, made this disclosure during a virtual media briefing, emphasising the chamber’s long-standing collaboration with Nigerian institutions in promoting youth skills development, dual vocational training, and enterprise competitiveness in line with international best practices.
The renewed pledge followed two decades of collaboration between IHK and Nigerian institutions, resulting in over 600 individuals directly trained through various programmes since 2005.
Dr. Leder highlighted that the partnership has strengthened considerably in recent years, citing the pivotal role of Nigeria’s former Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, in elevating bilateral engagement to a strategic level.
Dr. Leder noted that the chamber has conducted two official missions to Nigeria annually over the past two years, while Nigerian delegates actively participated in Germany’s ‘The World Meets in Giessen’ international business conference.
These engagements bring together entrepreneurs, policymakers, and development experts from across the globe.
The current visit of the IHK delegation to Nigeria aimed to consolidate previous achievements and identify opportunities to scale up partnership impact, particularly in vocational education and private sector growth.
Discussions are underway with senior government officials, including ministers of Labour and Employment, Youth Development, Education, Foreign Affairs, Budget and Economic Planning, and Industry, Trade and Investment, to establish a stronger framework for long-term cooperation.
Dr. Leder highlighted successful initiatives such as the Vocational Training Partnership Project (BBP), implemented from 2012 to 2018 in collaboration with the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Ogun State Chamber of Commerce (OGUNCCIMA), Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), and the Nigerian-German Business Association (NGBA).
The BBP helped institutionalise dual vocational training in Nigeria, bridging practical industry skills with classroom learning and enhancing employment prospects for young Nigerians.
Further, the Chamber Partnership Project (KVP), renewed in 2023, has empowered local chambers through digitalisation, advocacy, business management training, access to finance, and women entrepreneurship programmes.
Looking ahead, the German-Nigerian Hospitality Training Project, inaugurated in 2025, will provide select Nigerian youths with professional training opportunities in Germany’s hospitality sector, including language and intercultural orientation, followed by structured apprenticeships.
Dr. Leder underscored that these initiatives aimed to improve youth employability, strengthen workforce skills, and boost national economic productivity, describing the Nigeria-Germany partnership as a model of sustainable international cooperation built on skills development, innovation, and shared prosperity.
