# Apprenticeship and youth skills initiatives > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/apprenticeship-and-youth-skills-initiatives > Updated: 2026-07-26T20:09:20.000Z. Sources: 6. Developments: 2. In early July 2026, Fiji and Nigeria announced expanded apprenticeship programmes aimed at closing domestic skills gaps. Fiji’s scheme paired employer contributions with salary shares to train over 100 apprentices, while Nigeria launched a nationwide screening for its Skill‑Up Artisans Programme to certify local craftsmen and reduce reliance on foreign workers. By late July, Ghana’s National Youth Authority, in partnership with the French Embassy, advanced the theme of apprenticeship by integrating inclusive elements and international cooperation. The bilateral agreement pledged to broaden Ghana’s National Apprenticeship Programme, reserve slots for persons with disabilities, and facilitate joint technical‑training projects and overseas exposure for Ghanaian youth. Together, these announcements illustrate a regional trend toward scaling vocational training, strengthening industry‑linked learning, and seeking external partnerships to enhance the quality and accessibility of apprenticeship opportunities across Africa and the Pacific. ## Timeline ### 2026-07-26: Ghana's National Youth Authority and French Embassy deepen partnership for youth skills and inclusion Ghana’s National Youth Authority and France’s embassy renewed a partnership to boost youth skills, entrepreneurship and disability inclusion through the National Apprenticeship Programme. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/ghanas-national-youth-authority-and-french-embassy-deepen-partnership-for-youth-skills-and-inclusion ### 2026-07-11: Fiji and Nigeria expand apprenticeship programmes to bridge skills gaps Fiji and Nigeria launch expanded apprenticeship and artisan training programmes to address skilled‑worker shortages and reduce reliance on foreign labour. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/fiji-and-nigeria-expand-apprenticeship-programmes-to-bridge-skills-gaps --- Cite as: Apprenticeship and youth skills initiatives. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/apprenticeship-and-youth-skills-initiatives