Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), disclosing that nearly 250,000 Nigerians are undergoing skills training across more than 1,200 accredited training centres nationwide.
Dr Alausa made this known during an engagement with the House of Representatives Committee on Polytechnic and Higher Technical Education, chaired by Hon. Fuad Kayode Laguda, where he presented updates on the programme’s implementation, achievements, funding, enrolment and accountability mechanisms.
The minister disclosed that the latest TVET application portal recorded nearly 1.4 million applications within two weeks, surpassing the 1.3 million applications received during the first cohort within ten days. He said the figures reflected growing public interest in technical and vocational education as a pathway to employment, entrepreneurship and economic advancement.
Alausa commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his support for the education sector, noting that the administration had renewed national attention to technical and vocational education as a strategic investment in human capital development and economic growth.
He explained that the Federal Government was rebuilding the TVET ecosystem to equip young Nigerians with practical, industry-relevant skills that would enable them to secure employment, establish businesses and compete in an increasingly skills-driven global economy.
Addressing concerns about access to training opportunities, the Minister said the admission process was designed to be transparent, accessible and merit-based, with eligible applicants applying through a centralised online portal. Applicants provide relevant information, including their National Identification Number (NIN) and biometric details, to support verification.
He added that the allocation of available training opportunities took account of geographical representation across states and local government areas, given the programme’s limited capacity relative to the number of applicants.
On funding, Dr Alausa stated that each trainee receives a monthly stipend of ₦30,000, while accredited training centres receive ₦50,000 per student monthly to support training delivery.
He explained that biometric attendance verification had been introduced to strengthen accountability and ensure that public funds were tied to actual participation. According to him, initial payment delays arose from the implementation of the system, as the Ministry prioritised verifiable attendance records over manual documentation.
He confirmed that the issue had been resolved and payments to trainees and training centres were up to date as of September.
The Minister further stated that the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) was responsible for verifying the capacity of centres seeking accreditation. He said only centres that met the prescribed requirements were approved, adding that the process was intended to safeguard training standards, ensure quality delivery and expand access through capable private-sector providers.
Dr Alausa said the programme was designed to translate skills acquisition into tangible economic opportunities, with beneficiaries expected to receive starter packs and relevant equipment upon completing their training.
He cited tailoring and electrical installation as examples of trades in which graduates would receive the tools needed to begin providing services within their communities. The initiative, he explained, would help beneficiaries apply their skills, establish businesses, earn a livelihood and contribute to local economic development.
Beyond conventional vocational trades, the Minister disclosed that the Federal Government was supporting a Digital Technology Academy currently training 36,000 Nigerians in areas including software development, cybersecurity, natural language processing, information technology automation, artificial intelligence, machine learning and quantum computing.
He said participants had access to international learning platforms and professional certification opportunities associated with Coursera, Google and IBM. The initiative, according to him, was intended to equip young Nigerians with globally relevant digital competencies, enabling them to access opportunities in the digital economy and provide services to clients in Nigeria and abroad.
The Minister added that the Ministry was supporting improvements in training infrastructure, instructor capacity and modern equipment, while introducing a TVET job portal to connect graduates with prospective employers and strengthen the link between skills training and employment.
He also stated that education in federal technical colleges, as well as in one designated state technical college in each state, was free, with the Federal Government bearing the associated training costs. He said the policy was intended to reduce financial barriers and widen access to technical and vocational education.
Providing details of the programme’s geographical reach, Dr Alausa cited enrolment figures from several states.
In Bauchi State, 4,888 trainees were enrolled across 50 accredited centres, including 520 in Katagum. Akwa Ibom State had 5,885 trainees across 57 accredited centres, while Kogi State had 5,144 trainees across 42 centres. In Katsina State, approximately 1,800 trainees were undergoing training in eight newly established technical centres adopted into the programme.
The Minister in a statement bybhis media aide, Ikharo Attah, further highlighted ongoing efforts to rehabilitate and develop technical education infrastructure, including facilities in the Federal Capital Territory, and strengthen the capacity of instructors through specialised training.
He disclosed that some lecturers were participating in a train-the-trainer programme in Lagos with experts from the Singapore Institute of Technical Education, an initiative aimed at improving instructional capacity and the quality of technical training.
Dr Alausa acknowledged the need for more regular engagement with members of the National Assembly, noting that sustained communication would enable lawmakers to better understand the programme’s implementation and communicate its benefits to their constituents.
He assured the Committee that the Ministry would provide detailed statistics on enrolment, accredited training centres and ongoing training across states and local government areas.
He also encouraged lawmakers to visit accredited centres in their constituencies to assess implementation and engage directly with trainees and training providers.
The Minister emphasised that the TVET programme was intended to serve as a sustainable human capital development strategy rather than a temporary social intervention, equipping beneficiaries with practical skills and resources to pursue employment and entrepreneurship.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the House Committee on Polytechnic and Higher Technical Education, Hon. Fuad Kayode Laguda, described the engagement as fruitful and purposeful, noting that it provided an opportunity for constructive discussions on developments in the education sector and progress in technical and vocational education.
Hon. Laguda reaffirmed the Committee’s commitment to strengthening collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Education, deepening legislative understanding of the programme and sustaining effective oversight to improve performance in the sector.
He expressed optimism that continued engagement and cooperation would enable the Committee to make meaningful progress within the remaining period of the 10th National Assembly.
Dr Alausa called on lawmakers to support the programme by raising public awareness, engaging their constituents and visiting accredited training centres to monitor implementation.
He reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to expanding access to quality technical and vocational education, strengthening accountability and equipping Nigerian youths with practical, industry-relevant and globally competitive skills to support employment, entrepreneurship and national development.
