Core area “Training and sustainable growth for decent jobs” Access to loans and to vocational training

So far, however, the country has focused very much on the extractive sector, which creates relatively few jobs. By contrast, sectors such as construction, the digital industry and agriculture, which might generate significantly more employment, have received too little support.

Simultaneously, there is a shortage of skilled and educated labour, as general and vocational education institutions have been teaching students only few of the skills that are needed in the labour market. German development cooperation therefore focuses on creating a better environment for private sector activities, addressing the following aspects:

• Improvement of the business and investment climate: establishment of advice centres for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs); efforts to foster dialogue between the government and business; and improvement of the legal environment
• Financial system development, support for microfinance institutions in order to give MSMEs and low-income households access to loans
• Assistance for Nigeria's banking sector, for instance through support for the establishment and development of the Development Bank of Nigeria and support for an agricultural fund that assists rural small and medium-sized enterprises
• Support for development partnerships with the private sector through the develoPPP programme
• Support for high-quality, relevant vocational training in the areas of construction, agriculture and industrial mechanics in order to improve the job prospects of young women and men
• Establishment of a digiCenter in Lagos
• Information, advice, assistance in finding training opportunities and jobs both for returnees and for local people, provided by advice centres in Lagos, Abuja and Benin City