FG to Pay ₦45,000 Monthly Stipend to Technical College Students — A Bold Step to Revamp Vocational Education
In a landmark move to reposition Nigeria’s technical and vocational education landscape, the Federal Government has approved a monthly stipend of ₦45,000 for students enrolled in technical colleges across the country. The announcement was made by the Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), Prof. Idris Muhammad Bugaje, in an exclusive interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.
The decision, which is expected to spark renewed interest among young Nigerians in the largely neglected Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sector, is part of a broader effort to create a skilled workforce capable of meeting local and international labour market demands.
“This is not a loan. It’s a grant,” Prof. Bugaje emphasized, underscoring the Federal Government’s intention to stimulate youth enrollment in technical schools without placing financial burdens on them.
“We want to encourage more young Nigerians to consider technical education as a viable path to employment and self-reliance. With this stipend, they will find it more attractive to come to a technical college, acquire skills qualifications, and secure gainful employment, either here or abroad,” he explained.
According to Bugaje, this initiative represents a historic shift in how Nigeria values technical education. For decades, TVET has suffered systemic neglect, despite its critical role in national development.
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Bugaje lamented that the number of operational technical colleges in Nigeria has dwindled to just 129 institutions nationwide, a stark contrast to the country’s over 15,000 senior secondary schools. He attributed this decline to decades of policy neglect and lack of investment since the 1980s.
“During colonial days and shortly after our independence, TVET received a lot of attention. But from the 1980s, it began to go down the drain. This initiative marks what I call either a resurrection or a rebirth of TVET in Nigeria,” he said.
In addition to the ₦45,000 monthly grant, the Federal Government is also planning to cover teaching fees and industrial training supervision costs.
Specifically, the program includes:
- Monthly stipend of ₦45,000 for each enrolled student.
- Payment of teaching fees for technical colleges.
- Financial support for industry-based supervisors during students’ industrial attachments.
Funding for the initiative will come from a newly approved ₦120 billion technical education grant to be administered through the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFund).
According to Prof. Bugaje, the grant will serve as a lifeline to many students who are either out of school due to poverty or forced into menial jobs without skills.
The NBTE is also working closely with the Ministry of Education to push for a bill establishing a National Skills Fund under a revised Nigerian Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF).
“We are seeking a legislative instrument to ensure sustainability,” Bugaje explained. “This fund will consolidate resources to support vocational training, skills acquisition, and entrepreneurship for future generations.”
The bill is expected to be presented before the National Assembly in the coming months. If passed, it will formalize government commitments to technical education and provide an enduring legal structure for vocational skills development.
Reactions to the announcement have been largely positive.
Dr. Joseph Chimezie, a vocational training expert and founder of the Skills First Initiative, called the decision “long overdue.”
“For too long, technical education has been treated as a fallback option for academic failures. This policy will help change that mindset and place value where it truly belongs — on practical skills and innovation,” he said in an interview with our reporter.
Similarly, the National Association of Technical College Students (NATCS) expressed gratitude to the government, calling the grant “a game-changer.”
“Many of our colleagues have struggled to pay for accommodation, tools, and even transportation to school. This stipend will go a long way in easing our burdens,” said the group’s president, Ibrahim Tijjani.
Experts argue that strengthening TVET is not just a social initiative but a sound economic strategy. With millions of young Nigerians unemployed and underemployed, expanding access to technical skills could boost entrepreneurship, reduce crime, and make Nigerian workers competitive globally.
A 2024 report by the International Labour Organization (ILO) noted that Nigeria’s labour market suffers from a severe mismatch between graduates’ skills and job requirements. TVET, the report emphasized, offers a solution by equipping students with market-ready competencies in areas such as electrical installation, welding, carpentry, tiling, plumbing, ICT, and mechatronics.
Bugaje echoed this sentiment. “We have thousands of skilled jobs that go unfilled in Nigeria because we lack trained artisans and technicians. By investing in technical colleges, we are also investing in the economy.”
While the federal government is leading this push, Bugaje called on state governments to also invest in their technical schools and replicate the stipend model.
“The Federal Government can’t do it alone. We expect states to key into this and begin revitalizing their own technical colleges,” he said.
In some states like Kaduna, Lagos, and Ogun, pilot technical education programs have shown remarkable outcomes, with over 70% of graduates securing employment within six months. Bugaje believes similar results are achievable nationwide if states show political will.
Despite the enthusiasm, education experts warn that the policy must be carefully implemented to avoid bureaucratic hiccups, corruption, or abuse.
Dr. Ngozi Ifediora, an education policy consultant, highlighted potential challenges in verification of eligible students, disbursement logistics, and ensuring the stipend is not diverted.
“The intent is noble, but we’ve seen good policies fail due to poor execution. There must be transparency and accountability at every stage,” she advised.
There is also the issue of infrastructure. Many technical colleges are in dire need of renovation, equipment, and qualified instructors. Without parallel investment in facilities and staff training, the stipend may offer only a temporary fix.
For thousands of Nigerian youth who have long viewed technical colleges as inferior or a last resort, this stipend initiative could redefine perceptions.
In a country where university degrees often fail to guarantee employment, the government’s embrace of vocational skills may prove not only practical but visionary.
Prof. Bugaje remains optimistic. “We are not just giving money. We are giving hope. We are telling young people: you matter, your skills matter, and your future matters.”
As the program prepares for rollout, the question remains whether this bold initiative will be the turning point Nigeria’s troubled education sector desperately needs — or yet another missed opportunity.
Only time will tell.
TVET stands for Technical and Vocational Education and Training. It is a type of education that prepares individuals for specific trades, crafts, and careers at various levels — from technician to artisan to technologist.
Popular TVET fields include:
- Welding and Fabrication
- Electrical Installation
- ICT/Computer Engineering
- Carpentry and Joinery
- Plumbing
- Mechatronics
- Tailoring and Fashion Design
- Tiling and Bricklaying
TVET institutions typically offer both theoretical instruction and practical training, enabling graduates to enter the workforce with hands-on skills.
Quick Facts: The ₦45,000 Stipend Initiative
- Beneficiaries: All students enrolled in technical colleges across Nigeria.
- Amount: ₦45,000 monthly grant per student.
- Type: Non-refundable grant, not a loan.
- Other Benefits: Covers teaching fees and industrial attachment supervision.
- Administered by: National Board for Technical Education (NBTE).
- Funding Source: ₦120 billion grant via Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFund).
- Expected Impact: Increased enrollment, reduced unemployment, enhanced skill acquisition.
