The federal government will now pay N45,000 monthly to students in technical colleges under a renewed push to reposition technical and vocational education.
The federal government has introduced a N45,000 monthly stipend for students in technical colleges, in a bid to revitalise Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).
Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), Idris Bugaje, announced the initiative in Abuja, as part of President Bola Tinubu’s second-year agenda.
According to Bugaje, the stipend is part of a N120 billion grant to support skills-based education through the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).
“The N45,000 is not a loan, but a grant. Students who enjoy this are not going to pay back. We want to encourage more people to enroll in technical education,” he said.
The government will also fund tuition, pay “master class” industrial supervisors, and cover certification costs.
“With this, young people will find it more attractive to come to a technical college, acquire skills qualification, get jobs locally and even beyond the borders of Nigeria,” Bugaje added.
A bill to establish a National Skills Fund under a Nigerian Skills Qualification Framework is also underway.