Alausa: Nearly 250,000 Nigerians now on TVET scheme
By Uji A Iliyasu, Abuja
Nearly 250,000 Nigerians are undergoing skills training across more than 1,200 accredited centres nationwide, the Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, has said.
Briefing the House of Representatives Committee on Polytechnic and Higher Technical Education, chaired by Hon. Fuad Kayode Laguda, the minister said the latest TVET application portal recorded nearly 1.4 million applications in two weeks. The first cohort drew 1.3 million in 10 days.
He described the figures as evidence of growing public interest in technical and vocational education as a route to jobs and entrepreneurship, and commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for renewed attention to the sector.
Dr Alausa said admission is transparent and merit-based, run through a centralised online portal where applicants submit their National Identification Number and biometric details. Because capacity is limited relative to demand, slots are allocated with regard to geographical representation across states and local government areas.
On funding, each trainee receives a ₦30,000 monthly stipend, while accredited centres get ₦50,000 per student monthly. Biometric attendance verification was introduced to ensure public funds are tied to actual participation, he said.
Early payment delays, he explained, arose from implementing the system, but payments to trainees and centres were up to date as of September.
The National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) verifies the capacity of centres seeking accreditation, approving only those that meet set requirements, he added.
Graduates will receive starter packs and equipment, such as tools for tailoring and electrical installation, to start earning in their communities.
The minister also disclosed that the Federal Government is supporting a Digital Technology Academy training 36,000 Nigerians in software development, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, machine learning, quantum computing and related fields.
Participants have access to learning platforms and certifications linked to Coursera, Google and IBM. A TVET job portal is also being introduced to connect graduates with employers.
Education in federal technical colleges, and in one designated state technical college in each state, is free, with the Federal Government bearing training costs.
Citing state figures, he said Bauchi has 4,888 trainees in 50 centres, Akwa Ibom 5,885 in 57 centres, and Kogi 5,144 in 42 centres. In Katsina, about 1,800 trainees are in eight newly established technical centres adopted into the programme.
Dr Alausa added that some lecturers are in a train-the-trainer programme in Lagos with experts from the Singapore Institute of Technical Education, while facilities, including those in the FCT, are being rehabilitated.
Acknowledging the need for closer engagement with the National Assembly, he promised detailed statistics on enrolment and accredited centres, and urged lawmakers to visit centres in their constituencies. He stressed that TVET is a sustainable human capital strategy, not a temporary social intervention.
Hon. Laguda described the engagement as fruitful, reaffirmed the Committee’s commitment to oversight and collaboration with the Ministry, and expressed optimism about progress within the remaining period of the 10th National Assembly.