FG Announces N45K Monthly Stipend for Technical College Students
GoldenNewsNg reports that the Federal Government has announced a new policy that will see students enrolled in technical colleges across Nigeria receive a monthly stipend of N45,000 as part of efforts to promote technical and vocational education.
The Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), Prof. Idris Bugaje, made this known during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.
According to Prof. Bugaje, the initiative is aimed at making technical and vocational education and training (TVET) more attractive to young Nigerians and ensuring they acquire the necessary skills to secure gainful employment both locally and internationally.
“With this, young people will find it more attractive to come to a technical college, acquire skills qualification, get jobs locally and even beyond the borders of Nigeria,” he said.
He described the move as part of a broader effort to reposition the technical education sector, which he said had long been neglected.
“We are currently witnessing what you may call a resurrection or a rebirth of TVET. During the colonial era and the early years after independence, technical and vocational education received significant attention,” Bugaje noted.
However, he lamented that since the 1980s, the sector has suffered a decline in both attention and investment.
“Today, there are only 129 technical colleges across Nigeria, compared to over 15,000 senior secondary schools. This imbalance is part of what we are trying to address.”
Prof. Bugaje further clarified that the N45,000 stipend is not a loan but a grant, meaning beneficiaries will not be required to repay it. He said the goal is to remove financial barriers and encourage more enrollment in technical education institutions.
“Students who enjoy this are not going to pay back. We want to encourage more people to enroll in technical education,” he emphasized.
The NBTE boss expressed optimism that the policy will help bridge the skills gap in the country and prepare more Nigerian youths for active participation in the workforce.
