FG Empowers Nearly One Million Youths Through TVET Initiative
The Federal Government has launched a nationwide skills development programme aimed at training nearly one million Nigerian youths under the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) initiative of the Federal Ministry of Education.
The Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa (CON), disclosed this during an inspection visit to the AFS Vocational Hub in Garki and Golden Finger Farms and Ranches Limited along the Kubwa–Zuba Expressway in Abuja.
Dr. Alausa said the initiative, which aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, is designed to produce entrepreneurs rather than job seekers by equipping young Nigerians with employable and entrepreneurial skills that promote inclusive growth.
According to him, over 250,000 youths are currently enrolled in the first cohort across 2,600 training centres nationwide. The Ministry has streamlined skill areas from 86 trades to 28 key sectors critical to national development, including fashion, livestock production, GSM repair, plumbing, tiling, and modern farming.
“The TVET curriculum is 90 percent practical and 10 percent theoretical to ensure hands-on experience,” the Minister said. “We designed this initiative to create entrepreneurs out of these students, and we are proud to have achieved our targets within the eight-month timeline we set.”
Dr. Alausa revealed that more than 1.3 million applications were received when the national portal opened, with 960,000 applicants verified through NIN and BVN to ensure transparency. He added that training centres are paid directly to eliminate fraud and enhance accountability.
Each participant in the programme receives a ₦22,500 monthly stipend — ₦17,500 for upkeep and ₦5,000 for transportation — while centres receive ₦45,000 per trainee to support instruction. Upon completion, trainees will also receive starter packs to help them establish small-scale enterprises.
The Minister emphasized that many of the participants are graduates of universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education who now have the opportunity to acquire practical skills to make them self-reliant and globally competitive.
Dr. Alausa commended President Tinubu for reviving technical and vocational education in Nigeria, describing the initiative as a “major milestone in the nation’s quest for sustainable growth.”
“We have returned to the era when technical and vocational education coexisted with other forms of learning, restoring hope for millions of Nigerian youths,” he said.
He added that sustainability has been built into the programme, with annual incremental funding approved and 5% of TETFund’s budget dedicated to TVET. The Bank of Industry will also provide single-digit loans and grants to graduates to help them start businesses.
“The President has directed the Bank of Industry to work with the Federal Ministry of Education to support graduates of this programme with affordable loans,” Dr. Alausa stated. “Beyond training, this initiative is about giving young Nigerians the opportunity to apply their skills, create jobs, and contribute meaningfully to national development.”
At the Fashion and Garment Making Centre, trainee Margret Ogunsanya expressed gratitude for the opportunity, saying:
> “Before this training, I didn’t know how to use an industrial sewing machine. Now I can cut, measure, and sew professionally. I’m already planning to start my own brand.”
Another participant, Mr. Henry Okonta, undergoing training at Golden Fingers Farm and Ranches Limited, also commended the programme:
> “I applied online, and now I’m learning poultry and fish farming hands-on. The government’s promise of grants and equipment gives me confidence to start my own farm.”
Dr. Alausa reaffirmed that the Federal Government remains committed to expanding the TVET programme nationwide, ensuring that every Nigerian youth who acquires a skill becomes a driver of innovation, productivity, and national development.
“Technical and vocational education now stands at the centre of our national development agenda,” he concluded. “This is a great day for our nation.”
— By Boriowo Folasade, Director, Press and Public Relations
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