By Blessing Elo Oghene
The Federal Government’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programme has received nearly 1.4 million applications within two weeks, while about 250,000 Nigerians are currently undergoing skills training at more than 1,200 accredited centres nationwide.
The Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, disclosed this during an engagement with the House of Representatives Committee on Polytechnic and Higher Technical Education, highlighting growing interest in vocational training as a pathway to employment and entrepreneurship.
Alausa said the latest application window recorded nearly 1.4 million applications in 14 days, surpassing the 1.3 million applications received during the programme’s first cohort in 10 days.
He briefed the committee, chaired by Fuad Kayode Laguda, on the programme’s implementation, funding and accountability measures, stressing the government’s commitment to equipping young Nigerians with industry-relevant skills.
Under the scheme, trainees receive a monthly stipend of ₦30,000, while accredited training centres are paid ₦50,000 monthly for each trainee to support the delivery of training.
Alausa explained that beneficiaries would also receive starter packs and relevant equipment upon completing their training to enable them to establish businesses and earn a living.
He cited tailoring and electrical installation as examples of trades in which graduates would receive the necessary equipment to provide services and generate income within their communities.
The minister described the programme as a long-term human capital development strategy, noting that technical and vocational education must extend beyond classroom instruction to produce skilled workers and entrepreneurs capable of meeting labour market demands.
He commended President Bola Tinubu for supporting the initiative, describing technical and vocational education as a strategic investment in Nigeria’s economic development.
1.4m Applications, Limited Training Spaces
Despite the growing number of applications, Alausa acknowledged that the programme’s capacity remained limited compared with the number of Nigerians seeking admission.
He said the selection process was designed to be transparent and merit-based, requiring eligible applicants to register through a centralised online portal and provide their National Identification Numbers and biometric details for verification.
According to him, the allocation process also considers geographical representation across states and local government areas to ensure a wider distribution of available opportunities.
Alausa said the National Board for Technical Education was responsible for assessing and verifying the capacity of training centres before accreditation, adding that only facilities that met the prescribed requirements were approved.
He explained that the arrangement was intended to maintain training standards, protect public investment and expand access by involving qualified private-sector training providers.
Addressing concerns about payments to trainees and training centres, the minister said the introduction of biometric attendance verification initially caused delays as the ministry transitioned from manual documentation to a system that links payments to verified participation.
He said the measure was introduced to strengthen accountability and prevent payments from being made without evidence that training was taking place.
However, Alausa confirmed that the payment challenges had been resolved, with payments to trainees and training centres up to date as of September.
He added that the biometric system would improve transparency and ensure that public funds were used for their intended purposes.
36,000 Nigerians Undergo Digital Skills Training
Beyond conventional vocational trades, Alausa disclosed that 36,000 Nigerians were undergoing specialised training through a Digital Technology Academy supported by the Federal Government.
The courses include 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.
According to the minister, the initiative was designed to equip young Nigerians with globally competitive digital skills and improve their access to employment opportunities in the technology sector, including providing services to clients within and outside the country.
He added that the ministry was upgrading training infrastructure and equipment, strengthening instructors’ capacity and developing a TVET job portal to connect graduates with prospective employers.
States Record Thousands of Trainees
Providing details of the programme’s distribution, Alausa said Bauchi State had enrolled 4,888 trainees across 50 accredited centres, including 520 in Katagum.
Akwa Ibom State recorded 5,885 trainees across 57 centres, while Kogi State had 5,144 trainees in 42 accredited centres.
In Katsina State, approximately 1,800 trainees were undergoing training in eight newly established technical centres incorporated into the programme.
The minister also highlighted efforts to rehabilitate and develop technical education facilities, including those in the Federal Capital Territory, while expanding specialised training for instructors.
He disclosed that some lecturers were participating in a train-the-trainer programme in Lagos with experts from the Singapore Institute of Technical Education to improve instructional capacity and the quality of technical training.
Alausa further stated that education in federal technical colleges and one designated state technical college in each state was free, with the Federal Government covering the associated training costs to reduce financial barriers and widen access.
FG Seeks Stronger Legislative Collaboration
The minister acknowledged the need for more regular engagement with the National Assembly, saying sustained communication would help lawmakers understand the programme’s implementation and communicate its benefits to their constituents.
He promised to provide the committee with detailed statistics on enrolment, accredited centres and training activities across states and local government areas.
Alausa also urged lawmakers to visit accredited training centres in their constituencies to assess implementation and interact with trainees and training providers.
In his remarks, Laguda described the meeting as fruitful, noting that it provided an opportunity for constructive discussions on developments in the education sector and progress in technical and vocational education.
The committee chairman reaffirmed the lawmakers’ commitment to collaborating with the Federal Ministry of Education, deepening legislative understanding of the programme and sustaining effective oversight to improve its performance.
He expressed optimism that continued cooperation would enable the committee to make meaningful progress within the remaining period of the 10th National Assembly.
Alausa urged lawmakers to support the programme through public awareness campaigns, constituency engagement and visits to training centres.
He reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to expanding access to quality technical education and equipping Nigerian youths with practical skills for employment, entrepreneurship and national development.
