ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE-ENABLED APPRENTICESHIP AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING: A SUSTAINABLE MODEL FOR TECHNICAL SKILL DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA
Keywords:
Artificial Intelligence, Apprenticeship, Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), Technical Skill Development, Sustainability, Workforce Development, Digital Transformation.Abstract
The rapid advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming the future of work and redefining the competencies required for Industry 4.0 and Industry 5.0. This paper examined AI-enabled apprenticeship as a sustainable model for technical skill development in Nigeria. It argued that although Nigeria has one of Africa's largest apprenticeship systems, its effectiveness is constrained by inadequate infrastructure, outdated training methods, weak industry collaboration, limited digital capacity, and persistent skills mismatch. Using a position paper approach, the study reviews relevant literature on Artificial Intelligence, apprenticeship, technical skill development, and AI applications in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET). It further examined the role of AI in personalized learning, adaptive instruction, competency-based assessment, virtual practical training, intelligent mentorship, and lifelong learning. The paper argued that AI should complement rather than replace the traditional master–apprentice relationship by creating more flexible, learner-centred, and industry-responsive apprenticeship systems. As its major contribution, it proposes the Nigerian AI-Enabled Apprenticeship Framework (NAEAF), which integrates government, industry, TVET institutions, AI technologies, instructors, apprentices, and quality assurance mechanisms into a sustainable apprenticeship ecosystem. The paper concluded that adopting AI-enabled apprenticeship will strengthen technical competency, improve workforce productivity, promote entrepreneurship, enhance national competitiveness, and support the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 4, 8, and 9.
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