FG Introduces 45,000 Monthly Stipend for Technical College Students Nationwide

The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced a monthly stipend of ₦45,000 for students enrolled in technical colleges across the country, as part of its efforts to revitalise the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sector.

The initiative was revealed by the Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), Professor Idris Bugaje, during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja. The announcement comes as part of the evaluation of President Bola Tinubu’s administration in its second year.

According to Prof. Bugaje, this development is expected to accelerate the growth of technical education and boost student enrolment at the sub-tertiary level.

> “With this, young people will find it more attractive to attend technical colleges, acquire skill qualifications, and secure employment—both locally and internationally,” he said. “The entire sector is undergoing a transformation. This is essentially a rebirth of TVET.”

Purpose of the Stipend

Prof. Bugaje explained that the stipend forms part of a broader support system aimed at encouraging more Nigerian youths to choose technical education over conventional university pathways. He recalled the sector’s glory days during the colonial and early post-independence periods but lamented its subsequent decline.

> “Back in those days, technical education received significant attention. Unfortunately, since the 1980s, the sector has witnessed a steady decline. Currently, Nigeria has only 129 technical colleges, compared to over 15,000 senior secondary schools,” he noted.

Additional Support Measures

In addition to the monthly stipend, the government will also:

Cover tuition fees for technical college students

Remunerate industry-based supervisors, known as “master class” instructors, who oversee students during industrial attachments

Fund the cost of skill certification for students

₦120 Billion TVET Grant

Prof. Bugaje further disclosed that the Tinubu administration has approved a ₦120 billion grant to support the new TVET initiative. The grant will be managed through the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).

> “The ₦45,000 monthly stipend is not a loan—it is a grant. Beneficiaries are not required to pay it back. Our goal is to attract more young Nigerians to technical education,” he stated.

To ensure the sustainability of the initiative, efforts are underway to pass a bill in the National Assembly that will establish a National Skills Fund under a new Nigerian Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF).

> “This concept has been discussed for years, but the current Minister of Education is pushing it forward. The proposed legislation will formally create the NSQF and the National Skills Fund, which will provide continuous funding for TVET institutions—both public and private,” he added.

Background

President Tinubu’s government has introduced an ambitious plan to overhaul TVET across Nigeria, aiming to equip the country’s youth with practical, employment-ready skills to tackle unemployment and drive national development.

As part of this effort, the government restructured the TVET curriculum to prioritise practical training, dedicating 80% to hands-on learning and 20% to theoretical instruction.

Earlier this year, Nigeria signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with China to enhance the implementation and quality of vocational training nationwide.