…to open FIFA-approved football academy for Nigerian youths
From David Onuoja, Abuja
The Zeberced Group, has announced one of the West Africa’s largest skills development projects, with plans to train 20,000 Nigerians through a new Technical and Vocational Training School which will create at least 40,000 direct jobs.
Similarly, it promised to establish a FIFA-approved football academy for children and youth to develop football talent for local and international careers.
The Managing Director, Mr. Adil Kurt, revealed the plans during a courtesy visit by the Nigeria Union of Journalists, FCT Council, to Zeberced’s Abuja Industrial Park Free Zone facilities.
Related News
He said the school will admit about 2,000 young Nigerians yearly across specialized fields, with an estimated 20,000 graduates over the coming years.
On the vocation he said, the institution will offer training in Construction Technology, Machine and Design, Motor Vehicle, Plumbing, Metal, Furniture, and Electrical and Electronics Technology.
According to Mr. Kurt, the program is designed to equip youths with practical, industry-relevant skills for employment, self-reliance, and entrepreneurship.
“This is going to be a sample project and is presently the biggest operation of its kind in West Africa,” he said.
Beyond skills training, Zeberced also said, he is building a FIFA-approved academy to identify and groom young footballers for professional pathways. The group also operates what it calls Africa’s first integrated mining quarry and is expanding investments in manufacturing, construction, furniture, plastics and other sectors.
As part of its industrial vision, the company plans to facilitate hundreds of factories in the Idu Industrial Area to boost local manufacturing, cut import dependence, and expand employment. This, Mr. Kurt noted that, the 15-year-old industrial project has faced challenges but continues to progress through sustained investment and modern infrastructure.
Earlier, the Chairman, NUJ FCT Council, Comrade Grace Ike, commended Zeberced for its youth and development focus, describing the initiatives as timely for tackling unemployment and supporting economic diversification. She also sought the company’s support for the Council’s ultra-modern Congress Hall project, now at decking stage which Kurt pledged Zeberced’s support for the facility.
Zeberced Group has been operating in Nigeria since 2007. The company whose corporate philosophy centers is on technology transfer, skills acquisition, and large-scale job creation to drive Nigeria’s industrial transformation.
