Federal Government Unveils Bold Curriculum Shift to 80% Practical Training in Tertiary Institutions

Abuja — In a decisive move to bridge the persistent skills gap and align higher education with global labour market demands, the Federal Government has announced plans to overhaul the country’s tertiary education curriculum. The proposed framework reverses the traditional educational model, shifting the current balance from 70% theory and 30% practice to an intensive 80% practical and 20% theoretical standard.

​The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, made this disclosure in Abuja during the 2026 National Town Hall Meeting of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund). Represented by the Minister of State for Education, Suwaiba Ahmad, Mr Alausa emphasized that the strategic reform is designed to foster hands-on competency, drive technological advancement, and respond directly to national development priorities.

​Reorienting Education for Modern Industry

​Addressing stakeholders gathered under the theme “Investing in Nigeria’s Future: Tertiary Education, Human Capital and National Development,” the education minister noted that the structural transition aims to equip learners with vital competencies required in modern agriculture, agribusinesses, food production, post-harvest management, and allied environmental sectors.

​According to the ministry, the ongoing review exercise has already yielded 33 new and reviewed National Diploma and Higher National Diploma curricula, three National Certificate in Education curricula, and 31 National Occupational Standards. Mr Alausa stressed that infrastructural investments, staff training, and laboratory procurements must be closely matched with responsive curricula to guarantee that students acquire practical, market-ready skills.

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​TETFund Infrastructure Push and Student Support

​Reinforcing the government’s commitment to institutional transformation, the Executive Secretary of TETFund, Sunday Echono, announced that over 480 completed projects across beneficiary institutions nationwide are primed for immediate commissioning and use.

​Highlighting ongoing infrastructural milestones, Mr Echono disclosed that 14 projects are slated for inauguration at the Federal University of Aeronautics, Ezia. Furthermore, the fund has established a dedicated Student Innovation Fund to back promising student ideas with prototype development, intellectual property protection, and commercial linkages.

​Additional interventions highlighted by the TETFund boss include the ongoing construction of modern student hostels across 114 institutions and the deployment of dedicated student transportation fleets in 42 tertiary institutions, alongside expanded digital learning resources and specialized skills acquisition programs for informal artisans.

​Strengthening Stakeholder Collaboration

​Concluding the town hall deliberations, the leadership called for robust synergy among regulatory agencies, tertiary institutions, the private sector, and development partners. Stakeholders agreed that adequate funding, sound financial management, and sustainable facility maintenance remain critical to safeguarding accessible, high-quality higher education for all Nigerians without socioeconomic barriers.