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The short answer
If you are paying for a relative's apprenticeship in Nigeria from the UK, pay the trainer (the master, workshop or training centre) directly rather than giving the money to the apprentice, and pay in stages tied to outcomes agreed in writing before training starts. Nigeria's Labour Act expects a contract of apprenticeship to be written, to run no longer than five years and to be attested by an authorised labour officer, so a written agreement is the starting point, not a formality.
Why paying the trainer directly matters
Sponsoring a younger relative to learn a trade, whether tailoring, hairdressing, welding, catering, phone repair or auto mechanics, is one of the most useful things money from abroad can do. It is also one of the easiest to go wrong at a distance. When the fee passes through the apprentice or a family go-between, you lose sight of whether it reached the workshop, whether the full amount was paid, and what the trainer actually promised in return.
Paying the trainer yourself gives you three things you cannot get any other way: a record that the money arrived, a direct relationship with the person responsible for the training, and leverage. A trainer who knows the next instalment depends on progress you can check has a reason to keep the apprentice learning rather than running errands.
- Pay into an account in the trainer's or business's name, not a personal account belonging to someone else "collecting for" them.
- Confirm the account name before the first payment. Ask the trainer to send the details in writing, then check the name shown when you set up the transfer matches.
- Keep money for upkeep separate. Transport, feeding and a small allowance can go to the apprentice or a parent; the training fee goes to the trainer.
What the law says about apprenticeship contracts
Part III of the Labour Act (Cap L1, Laws of the Federation 2004) deals with contracts of apprenticeship. The points that matter to a sponsor are:
- Age. A parent or guardian may apprentice a young person over 12 and under 16, with that young person's written consent; someone aged 16 or over may apprentice themselves (s.49).
- Length. The term must not exceed five years (s.49).
- Writing and attestation. Every contract of apprenticeship must be in writing and is not valid unless an authorised labour officer has attested and approved it (s.50(1)).
- Contents. Before attesting, the officer must be satisfied that the apprentice is medically fit, the parties understood the terms, and the contract sets out how the apprentice's pay is worked out, pay during illness and holidays, and food, clothing, accommodation and medical care if the apprentice does not go home each day (s.50(2)).
- After the term. If an apprentice is kept on after the term without an agreed wage, they can recover the ordinary rate for similar work (s.51).
Sections 49 to 53 say nothing about a training fee or "premium" paid to the master. Many informal trade apprenticeships in Nigeria are agreed by word of mouth between families and trainers, and the Act does not stop a sponsor paying a fee. What it does make clear is that the arrangement should be written down. If the apprentice is under 18, involve a parent or guardian in signing, and ask the trainer whether they have had contracts attested before; the state Ministry of Labour office is the place to ask how attestation works locally.
Agree outcomes before you pay anything
An apprenticeship fee buys skill, so define the skill. A one-page agreement signed by the trainer, the apprentice and a parent or guardian should cover:
- Duration and hours: the start date, expected end date and the days and hours the apprentice attends.
- A skills list: what the apprentice should be able to do at set points. For a tailoring apprenticeship that might be taking measurements and cutting by month three, sewing a complete garment unaided by month nine.
- The total fee and what it includes: training, tools, materials, any end-of-training ceremony costs (often called "freedom" or "settlement" in some trades). Ask for every cost now, so nothing appears at the end.
- Payment stages, each tied to a check you can make from the UK.
- What happens if things go wrong: if the trainer closes the workshop, the apprentice stops attending, or either side ends it early, how much is refunded or credited.
- Tools at the end: whether the apprentice keeps a starter kit, and who pays for it.
Ask about safety too, especially in welding, mechanics or carpentry. The Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) says the Employees' Compensation Act 2010 covers apprentices from their first day, on a no-fault basis, where the employer is a registered contributor. Ask the trainer whether the workshop is registered with NSITF and what happens if the apprentice is injured.
How to check progress from abroad
- A short video call every month with the apprentice at the workshop, showing work they made that week.
- Photos of finished pieces with the date visible.
- A call with the trainer before each stage payment, asking specific questions about the skills list.
- A visit by a relative you trust, unannounced if possible, once or twice during the term.
A worked example of staged payments
Example only. Figures are illustrative, not market prices. Suppose a fashion designer in Ibadan quotes ₦450,000 for an 18-month apprenticeship, including a basic tool kit, plus ₦60,000 for materials over the term. You agree to pay in four stages:
| Stage | When | Condition you check | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Start | Signed agreement, apprentice attending | ₦150,000 |
| 2 | Month 6 | Video of measuring and cutting unaided | ₦120,000 |
| 3 | Month 12 | Complete garment made unaided | ₦120,000 |
| 4 | Month 18 | Final assessment; tool kit handed over | ₦120,000 |
| Total | ₦510,000 |
Check the sum: 150,000 + 120,000 + 120,000 + 120,000 = 510,000, which is the ₦450,000 fee plus ₦60,000 for materials. Front-loading a third of the cost reflects that the trainer bears set-up costs at the start; holding back the last quarter until the end protects you if training stalls. Because the fee is in naira and you earn in pounds, the pound cost of each stage depends on the rate on the day you send it.
Records and receipts
Ask the trainer for a receipt for every stage, naming the apprentice, the stage and the amount. Keep these with the signed agreement and your transfer confirmations. If the arrangement breaks down, a clear paper trail is what lets a family meeting, a trade association or a court see what was agreed and what was paid. It also matters if other relatives contributed: everyone can see where the money went. Writing down a family arrangement is covered in more detail in putting a family loan in writing, and helping a relative start out once training ends is covered in funding a sibling's small business.
Where Pryme fits
With a Pryme account you can hold pounds and naira in one place and convert with Swap when you choose to pay a stage; the app shows the rate and the fee before you approve. You can send naira straight to the trainer's Nigerian bank account and generate a verifiable receipt through our partner VerifyDoc.ai, which the family can check is genuine and unaltered. If you prefer to set the training money aside in naira, a Savings Box keeps it separate from everyday funds.
Questions people ask
Should I give the apprenticeship money to my relative or the oga directly?
Pay the trainer directly, into an account in the trainer's or business's name, and give upkeep money to the apprentice or a parent separately. That way you have a record that the fee arrived and a direct line to the person responsible.
Does an apprenticeship in Nigeria need a written contract?
The Labour Act says a contract of apprenticeship must be in writing and attested by an authorised labour officer, and must not run longer than five years. Many informal arrangements are not attested, but a written agreement protects everyone; ask the state Ministry of Labour how attestation works.
How do I know my cousin is actually learning?
Agree a skills list with dates, then check with monthly video calls at the workshop, dated photos of finished work and a call with the trainer before each payment. Tie each stage payment to a skill you have seen.
What if the trainer closes the shop halfway?
Your agreement should say in advance what is refunded or credited if training ends early. Staged payments limit what you can lose, because you have only paid for the stages already completed.
Sources
- Labour Act, Cap L1 LFN 2004, Part III contracts of apprenticeship (PLAC) · accessed Oct 2026
- NSITF: Employees' Compensation, what we cover · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.