From Victor Osula, Abuja
The Federal Government has declared free education for students enrolled in both federal and state technical colleges across the country.
Minister of State for Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, made the announcement on Friday at the launch of the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) initiative in Abuja.
He stated that students in technical colleges will enjoy free tuition, accommodation, feeding, and receive a monthly stipend of N22,500.
According to the minister, the initiative is designed to attract more young Nigerians to TVET programmes and encourage them to acquire practical and relevant skills for the modern workforce.
Also speaking at the event, the Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), Prof. Idris Bugaje, said the initiative forms part of a broader strategy to reposition the TVET sector as a viable alternative to traditional university education.
He noted that the policy aims to accelerate the development of TVET in Nigeria and significantly increase enrolment at the sub-tertiary level.
“With this, young people will find it more attractive to enrol in technical colleges, acquire vocational qualifications, and secure jobs—both within Nigeria and internationally. This marks a turning point for the sector. What we are witnessing is either a resurrection or a rebirth of TVET in Nigeria,” Bugaje said.
He recalled that technical and vocational education once held a prominent place during the colonial era and in the early years of Nigeria’s independence.
However, the sector began to decline in the 1980s, leading to a drastic reduction in the number of technical colleges.
“Today, there are only 129 technical colleges in the country compared to over 15,000 senior secondary schools,” he added.
