By Felix Khanoba
Nearly 250,000 Nigerians have enrolled in the Federal Government’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programme, with the initiative operating through more than 1,200 accredited training centres and production hubs nationwide.
The Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, disclosed this at the 32nd Nigerian Economic Summit in Abuja, where he called for stronger partnerships between educational institutions and employers to equip young Nigerians with practical skills needed in the labour market.
Alausa, who spoke during a panel session titled “Building Nigeria’s Future Workforce”, said the government was implementing reforms to bridge skills gaps, improve employability and prepare the country’s workforce for the changing demands of the economy.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by his Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Ikharo Attah, the minister said the TVET initiative was designed to make technical education more relevant to industry needs and emerging economic opportunities.
He explained that the government had reduced the number of training areas from 82 to 28 market-relevant trades following a labour market and skills gap analysis.
Under the programme, about 80 per cent of training is devoted to practical activities, while the remaining 20 per cent covers theoretical instruction.
Alausa said eligible trainees receive a monthly stipend of ₦30,000, while participating training centres are paid ₦50,000 per learner monthly to support training delivery.
He added that tuition at federal technical colleges was free, describing vocational education as an important pathway to employment, self-employment and enterprise development.
The minister further disclosed that the programme received approximately 1.4 million applications within two weeks of the latest application portal opening, highlighting the demand for skills acquisition opportunities among young Nigerians.
Beyond vocational training, Alausa identified the revised national curriculum, which took effect from the 2025/2026 academic session, as a major component of the government’s efforts to align education with the country’s economic needs.
He said the reform reduced the number of subjects at the senior secondary school level while introducing Digital Technologies and trade subjects to strengthen digital literacy and practical competence.
According to him, the Ministry of Education is also promoting the use of artificial intelligence to assist teachers with lesson planning and assessment, while ensuring that its application does not undermine children’s cognitive development at the primary school level.
On access to tertiary education, the minister highlighted the contribution of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) to reducing financial barriers confronting students seeking higher education.
He disclosed that NELFUND had disbursed ₦372.62 billion to students and participating institutions as of September 29, 2026.
Alausa said the ministry was also working with the National Universities Commission and other stakeholders to encourage the introduction and development of courses that reflect contemporary industry requirements and labour market demands.
The minister stressed that education reforms must go beyond producing graduates with academic qualifications to equipping young people with the skills to establish businesses and create jobs.
He disclosed that the Entrepreneurial Innovation and Business Incubation Certification programme was being piloted in 14 universities, with plans to expand it across universities from the next academic session.
Alausa called for stronger collaboration among government agencies, educational institutions and employers, urging industry players to participate in setting occupational standards, developing curricula, assessing practical competencies and providing workplace training opportunities.
He maintained that the effectiveness of education reforms should not be measured solely by enrolment and graduation figures but also by the number of graduates and trainees who secure employment, establish sustainable businesses, improve their earnings and contribute to national productivity.
The panel discussion was part of the 32nd Nigerian Economic Summit, held under the theme, “Growth That Works”.
The summit brought together public and private sector leaders to deliberate on policies and strategies for improving Nigeria’s economic performance, productivity and shared prosperity.
Alausa reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to building an education system that connects learning with economic production and prepares Nigerian youths to compete in an increasingly technology-driven and skills-based global labour market.
