In a significant move to revitalize Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in Nigeria, the Federal Government has announced a monthly stipend of N45,000 for students enrolled in technical colleges nationwide.
Prof. Idris Bugaje, Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), shared this development in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), highlighting it as part of President Bola Tinubu’s second-year administration initiatives.
Bugaje explained that this initiative is a key component of a broader strategy to reposition the TVET sector, making it a more appealing alternative to traditional university education and accelerating its development.
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Beyond the monthly stipend, the government will also cover teaching fees, pay industry-based supervisors (referred to as “master class” instructors for industrial attachments), and finance the cost of skill certification.
Bugaje stated that this comprehensive approach aims to encourage more young people to enroll in technical colleges, acquire skills, and secure jobs both locally and internationally.
He described the current period as a “resurrection or a rebirth of TVET,” noting that while TVET received attention during colonial times and early independence, it has declined since the 1980s, leading to a significant drop in the number of technical colleges compared to senior secondary schools.
He expressed optimism that this new initiative would reverse this trend and restore TVET’s prominence.
To support this, President Tinubu’s government has allocated a N120 billion grant for students under the new TVET initiative.
This grant, disbursed through the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), is a significant shift in government strategy to promote skills-based education.
Bugaje clarified that the N45,000 stipend is a grant, not a loan, meaning students are not required to repay it.
To ensure the program’s sustainability and expansion, Bugaje revealed that the Minister of Education is championing a legislative bill to establish a National Skills Fund under a new Nigerian Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF).
This bill is expected to be presented to the National Assembly soon. The proposed National Skills Fund would provide continuous funding for TVET institutions, including both government and private colleges.
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