By ₦45,000 Monthly Stipend for Technical College Students
FG Seeks to Boost TVET Enrollment
Summary
- Nigerian government to pay ₦45,000 monthly stipend to students in technical colleges as part of a nationwide TVET reform.
- The initiative includes free tuition, funding for industrial training supervisors, and skill certification costs.
- ₦120 billion allocated for the program, with plans to establish a National Skills Fund to ensure sustainability.
Abuja, Nigeria — In a bold move to revamp Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in Nigeria, the Federal Government has announced a monthly stipend of ₦45,000 for students enrolled in technical colleges nationwide.
This was revealed by Professor Idris Bugaje, Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), during a press briefing in Abuja on May 28, 2025, marking the second anniversary of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
The stipend, which is a non-repayable grant, aims to attract more young Nigerians to technical education by easing financial burdens and repositioning TVET as a viable and desirable alternative to university education.
Beyond the monthly stipend, the federal initiative also provides free tuition, allowances for industry-based supervisors, also known as “master class” instructors, for students’ industrial attachments, and covers the cost of skills certification.
To fund this ambitious initiative, the government has earmarked ₦120 billion, which will be managed through the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).
In a bid to ensure long-term impact and continuity, the Minister of Education is also promoting a legislative bill to create a National Skills Fund under the Nigerian Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF). This fund will provide ongoing support to both public and private TVET institutions.
The policy comes in response to the sharp decline in technical education across the country, with only 129 technical colleges in operation compared to over 15,000 senior secondary schools. This imbalance, which stems from decades of neglect since the 1980s, has contributed to high youth unemployment and a shortage of skilled labor.
The government says this renewed focus on technical education will equip Nigerian youths with the practical skills needed for employment in both local and international job markets, fostering economic development and self-reliance.
