Technical College Students to Receive N45,000 Monthly Stipend in Federal Boost for TVET

Abuja, Nigeria – In a significant move aimed at revitalizing technical and vocational education and training (TVET) in Nigeria, the federal government has announced a monthly stipend of N45,000 for all students enrolled in technical colleges nationwide. This initiative, declared as a grant rather than a loan, seeks to attract more young people to technical skills acquisition and address the declining enrollment in technical institutions.

The Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), Prof. Idris Bugaje, revealed this groundbreaking development in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

“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,” Bugaje stated. He emphasized that the stipend is a non-repayable grant, designed purely to encourage enrollment and participation in technical education.

Prof. Bugaje underscored the strategic importance of this intervention, describing it as either a “resurrection or a rebirth of TVET.” He lamented the sector’s decline since the 1980s, noting that the number of technical colleges has dwindled to just 129 currently, a stark contrast to the estimated 15,000 senior secondary schools across the country. This disparity highlights a critical gap in skills development that the government is now actively seeking to close.

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The move comes amidst a broader national push to enhance vocational training and produce a skilled workforce capable of driving economic growth and reducing unemployment. The government’s commitment to providing direct financial incentives to students is expected to make technical education a more appealing and viable career path for Nigerian youth.

While the immediate impact is expected to be a surge in applications to technical colleges, the long-term vision is to foster a new generation of artisans, technicians, and skilled professionals who can contribute to various sectors of the Nigerian economy and even compete internationally. The emphasis on grants over loans aims to remove financial barriers that may have deterred prospective students in the past.

This bold step signifies a renewed federal commitment to a sector that was once a cornerstone of development during the colonial era and early independence but has since suffered from neglect. Education experts and industry stakeholders are optimistic that this financial injection will indeed mark a turning point for TVET in Nigeria, paving the way for a more skilled and employable workforce.