The federal government on Friday declared that students in Federal and State Technical Colleges will henceforth enjoy free education.
It explained that the package includes free tuition, accommodation, and feeding and a monthly stipend of N22,500 to students in the colleges.
Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, announced the development at the launch of Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) in Abuja.
The minister said the gesture was designed to attract more young people to TVET, incentivise them so they could use the opportunity to acquire relevant skills that would make them useful to society.
Speaking at a news conference to officially launch the renewed Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Initiative, Alausa described it as a bold and strategic effort to reposition the education system to meet the practical needs of the nation’s economy and the aspirations of Nigerian youths.
According to him, the portal for registration of trainees under the TVET programme will be formally launched by the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).
He said the initiative aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s desire to ensure that no one is left behind.
The minister added that the gesture is designed to attract more young people to TVET and incentivise them to acquire relevant skills that will make them useful to society.
Alausa explained that the free education applies to students in both federal and state technical colleges across the country.
Accreditation of both public and private TVET centres nationwide is ongoing for the training of other categories of students.
He disclosed that the national target is to train no fewer than five million Nigerian youths with industry-relevant, entrepreneurial, and income-generating skills by the year 2030.
The minister emphasised that this is not just a projection but a mission backed by strategic investments, implementation frameworks, and multisectoral partnerships.
He stressed that the goal is not merely to produce certified graduates but to build a skilled workforce that is globally competitive, entrepreneurial, and adaptable.
Alausa noted that this is the only way to bridge the skills gap, reduce youth unemployment, support local industries, and attract investments into the real economy.
“We are gathered here not merely to make another policy pronouncement, but to formally declare a new national resolve — a resolve to unlock the latent potential of millions of young Nigerians by equipping them with relevant, market-driven skills; a resolve to reposition TVET as a cornerstone of our economic recovery, social inclusion, and industrial competitiveness.
“Nigeria’s greatest resource is not beneath the ground — it is in the energy, creativity, and talent of her people. With over 70 percent of our population under the age of 30, the urgency to transform demographic potential into productive capacity cannot be overstated.
“The TVET initiative is our coordinated, data-driven, and action-oriented response to this challenge,” he stated.
Alausa further noted that under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Ministry of Education has identified TVET as a national priority.
He said the reform package is anchored on a standardised skills certification and demand-driven trade areas. To ensure broad participation, the government has introduced a package of practical incentives: tuition waivers, monthly stipends for learners, grants and single-digit loans in partnership with the Bank of Industry (BOI), and business start-up kits for graduates.
The minister further revealed that the reform is designed to be inclusive, decentralised, and collaborative, explaining that the ministry has already engaged state governors, commissioners of education, sector skills councils, regulatory agencies, employers, and development partners to build ownership at every level.
Kuni Tyessi
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