Pan Africa Entrepreneurship and Vocational College of Education

The Pan African Institute for Entrepreneurship and Community Development (PAIECD) is a professional, membership-based training institution based at First Floor, Lagada Plaza, Karu Site, Abuja. It was established in 2013 and is incorporated with the Corporate Affairs Commission (RC 1154329). It holds special consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and is a member of the UN-Habitat Partner University Initiative.

Its mandate, set with the Federal Ministries of Education and Justice, is to professionalise entrepreneurship and community development in Nigeria and to promote advanced knowledge, education, skill acquisition, careers in trades, training, practice, research and support. Its service areas are professional membership, skill acquisition and development, professional certification courses, business support, training and capacity building, research and publications, and networking.

Academic courses include Entrepreneurship Development, Community Development, Information Management, Crime and Urban Management, Small Business Development and Knowledge Management, offered at certificate, diploma and advanced diploma levels, with professional certification above them. Information Management covers data collection, storage and retrieval, information governance and data protection, digital tools such as databases, SQL, Python and Microsoft 365, and data ethics and security.

Vocational and apprenticeship training covers beauty therapy, hairdressing and barbering; construction trades (electrical, plumbing, carpentry, plastering, tiling, aluminium installation); fashion, music technology, sound engineering and interior design; welding, mechanics and fabrication; hospitality, catering and tourism; IT and telecommunications; agriculture (farming, poultry, aquaculture); film production; satellite installation; logistics; publishing and graphics; photography; retail and warehousing; and sport and recreation. Apprenticeship applicants must be members of the Institute and hold qualifications matching their training area. Apprentices may also become professional members and Accredited Skilled Partners.

A student Academic Advice centre and a Career Advice centre provide mentoring and guidance to students and members. Membership runs through categories up to Fellowship, and the Institute holds annual induction and fellowship award events.