Zeberced Group has announced plans to launch a FIFA-approved football academy aimed at identifying, developing and promoting talented young Nigerians toward professional careers at both home and abroad.
Academy plan unveiled during NUJ FCT visit
Zeberced Group’s Managing Director, Mr. Adil Aydin Kurt, shared the proposal during a courtesy visit by the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), FCT Council. The delegation was led by its Chairman, Comrade Grace Ike, and the meeting took place at the company’s facilities within the Abuja Industrial Park Free Zone, where both sides discussed potential avenues for strategic cooperation.
Mr. Kurt said the academy is designed to discover and groom promising children and young people for professional football pathways at local and international levels, while also supporting longer-term youth development goals.
Big vocational push: training and jobs at scale
Beyond football, Mr. Kurt also outlined an ambitious investment programme centered on establishing a Technical and Vocational Training School. He said the plan targets the training of about 2,000 young Nigerians every year, alongside the creation of at least 40,000 direct jobs.
- Mr. Kurt said Zeberced is already working on a vocational training school that will provide instruction in multiple fields for young Nigerians.
- He added that the initiative is intended to deliver 40,000 direct jobs and is currently described as the largest operation of its type in West Africa.
- He said the institution will be built to equip young people with practical, industry-relevant capabilities to support employment, self-reliance and entrepreneurship.
- He stressed that the company is focused on long-term investments to speed up skills development, industrialisation and human capital growth.
Courses set for the technical school
Based on the architectural plan for the school, training will cover a broad range of specialised technical areas, including:
- Construction Technology
- Machine and Design Technology
- Motor Vehicle Technology
- Plumbing Technology
- Metal Technology
- Furniture Technology
- Electrical and Electronics Technology
Industrial expansion, mining operations and national development
Mr. Kurt also used the visit to describe Zeberced Group’s wider industrial ambitions across the Nigerian economy. He said the company operates what he referred to as Africa’s first integrated mining quarry of its kind, while continuing to expand investment activity across manufacturing, construction and other priority sectors.
On its industrial vision, the Managing Director said Zeberced intends to support the creation of hundreds of factories within the Idu Industrial Area. The goal, he said, is to strengthen local manufacturing, widen employment opportunities and reduce Nigeria’s reliance on imported goods.
He noted that the industrial development effort began roughly 15 years ago and has encountered multiple challenges, but has continued to progress through resilience and continued investment.
- He said investments in manufacturing, furniture production and plastics-related industries—backed by modern infrastructure and advanced equipment—are intended to support Nigeria’s industrial transformation.
- He described Zeberced’s corporate philosophy as focused on sustainable value for Nigeria through strategic investments, technology transfer, skills development and large-scale job creation.
Mr. Kurt also expressed confidence in the country’s future, saying the company is serious about its work and has “many ideas and visions” to share. He added that it aims to bring qualified professionals from across the world to Nigeria, arguing that “the future is Africa.”
NUJ FCT response and support request
In her remarks, Comrade Grace Ike commended Zeberced Group for its commitment to empowering young people, expanding skills, and supporting national development. She said the proposed vocational training institution and the company’s industrial expansion are timely interventions that can help tackle unemployment, encourage self-reliance among young Nigerians, and back the country’s economic diversification agenda.
Comrade Ike also briefed Zeberced’s management on the NUJ FCT Council’s ongoing ultra-modern Congress Hall project, which she said has reached the decking stage. She appealed for Zeberced Group’s assistance to complete the facility, explaining that the Congress Hall would provide a permanent venue for congresses, professional discussions, training programmes and other official activities of the NUJ FCT Council.
Responding, Mr. Kurt indicated that Zeberced Group is willing to support the project, reiterating its readiness to form partnerships that strengthen institutions and contribute to national development.
The visit ended with both organisations expressing optimism about building a strategic relationship that can drive industrial growth, youth development, professional capacity building and sustainable socio-economic progress across Nigeria.
Zeberced’s footprint since 2007
Zeberced Group said it has been operating in Nigeria since 2007, with investments spanning manufacturing, construction, industrial infrastructure and human capital development.
