The federal government has announced a monthly allowance of N45,000 for students attending technical colleges across the country.
The initiative is part of an effort to enhance Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in the country.
Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), Prof. Idris Bugaje, shared this news during an interview in Abuja on Wednesday.
He talked about the plan as part of President Bola Tinubu’s administration’s strategy to make technical education more appealing compared to traditional university degrees.
“The aim of this programme is to boost the TVET sector, encouraging more students to enroll in these colleges where they can learn practical skills.
“In addition to the monthly stipend, the government will also cover the costs of tuition, pay experienced instructors, and help with skill certification.
“With this initiative, we hope to attract young people to technical colleges, enabling them to gain skills that will help them find jobs both in Nigeria and abroad,” Prof. Bugaje said.
He emphasized that the TVET sector is undergoing a revival, as it had been neglected since the 1980s, resulting in a significant decline in the number of technical colleges.
Currently, there are only 129 technical colleges in Nigeria, compared to 15,000 senior secondary schools.
However, Bugaje is optimistic that this new programme will help turn things around and bring attention back to technical education.
The federal government has allocated a significant amount to support this initiative through the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), which will not require students to pay back the N45,000 allowance.
The goal is to encourage more students to participate in technical education.
To further support this programme, Prof. Bugaje mentioned that the minister of education is working on a new law to create a national skills fund.
The fund, he explained, will help finance TVET institutions, including private colleges, ensuring ongoing support for technical education in Nigeria.
The proposed law is expected to be presented to the National Assembly soon.
