Dodoma: THE Tanzanian government has rolled out a massive nationwide youth skills drive, enrolling 5,746 young people across all its 25 regions under the 2025/26 apprenticeship programme.
Launching the eighth phase of the apprenticeship-based vocational skills training program, Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office (Labour, Employment and Industrial Relations), Deus Sangu, said the initiative is designed to equip youth with practical, market-ready skills to enhance employability and self-reliance.
Of the beneficiaries, 3,355 are male and 2,391 females, training in 46 institutions, 29 government-owned and 17 private colleges. The programme also accommodates 60 youth with disabilities, including 37 men and 23 women.
Mr. Sangu said the rollout marks a significant step toward building a skilled workforce aligned with Tanzania’s Development Vision 2050, which targets a technology-driven, upper middle-income economy.
Since its inception in 2016/17, the apprenticeship initiative has enabled 87,749 youth, 48,216 men, and 39,533 women to graduate with vocational and technical skills in sectors such as tourism and hospitality, construction, ICT, agribusiness, tailoring, and manufacturing.
“Upon completion of this cohort in September 2026, the total number of beneficiaries will rise to 93,495,” he said.
He urged trainees to embrace digital transformation, particularly Artificial Intelligence (AI), stressing that technological literacy is now essential across professions.