The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced a plan to provide a monthly stipend of ₦45,000 to students enrolled in technical colleges across the country.
This was disclosed by the Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), Prof. Idris Bugaje, during a media briefing in Abuja. He explained that the initiative is aimed at revitalizing interest in technical and vocational education.
Prof. Bugaje revealed that President Bola Tinubu’s administration has approved a ₦120 billion grant under the new Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) scheme. The funds will be managed and disbursed through the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).
Expressing concern over the declining enrollment in technical and vocational institutions, Bugaje stressed the urgent need to reposition the sector. He emphasized that students trained in technical fields would acquire relevant skills, boosting their employment prospects both within Nigeria and internationally.
“With this stipend, young Nigerians will be more inclined to attend technical colleges, earn skills-based certifications, and secure jobs both locally and abroad,” he said.
Bugaje described the initiative as a major step toward the revival of TVET in Nigeria, noting that the sector had previously flourished during the colonial and early post-independence periods. However, since the 1980s, interest and investment in technical education have significantly declined. He pointed out that while Nigeria currently has about 15,000 senior secondary schools, there are only 129 technical colleges nationwide.
Importantly, he clarified that the ₦45,000 stipend is not a loan but a non-repayable grant, designed to attract more young people into technical education and skill acquisition