In a bold move to revitalize technical and vocational education in Nigeria, the Federal Government has announced a monthly stipend of ₦45,000 for students enrolled in technical colleges across the country.
The Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), Prof. Idris Bugaje, disclosed this during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.
According to Prof. Bugaje, the initiative is part of a broader strategy to reposition the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sector and make it more attractive to young Nigerians.
“With this, young people will find it more attractive to come to a technical college, acquire skills qualification, get jobs locally and even beyond the borders of Nigeria,” he said.
He emphasized that the monthly stipend is not a loan but a non-repayable grant, aimed at boosting enrolment and interest in technical education.
“We are at the moment facing what you may call either a resurrection or a rebirth of TVET. During colonial days and the early years after independence, TVET received significant attention. But since the 1980s, we have seen a steady decline,” Bugaje noted.
He lamented the stark contrast in the current educational landscape, where Nigeria has only 129 technical colleges compared to over 15,000 senior secondary schools nationwide.
“This grant is designed to reverse that trend,” he added. “We want to encourage more people to enroll in technical education and bridge the skills gap critical to national development.”
The announcement has been widely welcomed by education stakeholders, who describe the move as a timely intervention that could reduce youth unemployment and support industrial growth.
