TVET Scheme Attracts 1.4m Applications in Two Weeks, Says Alausa

The Federal Government’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programme has attracted nearly 1.4 million applications within two weeks, as enrolment for skills acquisition continues to rise across the country.

The Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, disclosed this during an engagement with the House of Representatives Committee on Polytechnic and Higher Technical Education, chaired by Fuad Kayode Laguda.

Alausa said nearly 250,000 Nigerians were undergoing training across more than 1,200 accredited centres nationwide. He briefed the lawmakers on enrolment, funding, programme implementation and measures to ensure accountability.

The latest application figure surpassed the 1.3 million applications recorded during the first cohort, which attracted the number within 10 days.

The minister said the growing interest showed that more Nigerians were considering technical and vocational education as a pathway to employment, entrepreneurship and economic advancement.

He said the Federal Government was strengthening the programme to equip young people with practical skills relevant to industry and the changing demands of the labour market.

Alausa commended President Bola Tinubu for supporting efforts to expand technical and vocational education, describing skills development as an investment in human capital and economic growth.

On admission, the minister said the programme used a centralised online portal to make applications accessible and transparent. Applicants provide relevant details, including their National Identification Number and biometric information, to support verification.

He explained that the ministry considered geographical representation across states and local government areas when allocating training opportunities. However, the number of available spaces remained limited compared with the volume of applications.

Under the funding arrangement, each trainee receives a monthly stipend of N30,000, while accredited training centres receive N50,000 per student monthly to support training delivery.

Alausa said the ministry introduced biometric attendance verification to ensure that public funds went towards genuine participation in training.

He attributed initial payment delays to the introduction of the verification system, which required the ministry to prioritise confirmed attendance records over manual documentation. He said the issue had been resolved, with payments to trainees and centres up to date as of September.

The minister added that the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) assessed centres seeking accreditation to ensure they met the required standards. He said the process would protect training quality while allowing qualified private-sector providers to expand access.

He also disclosed that the government planned to provide starter packs and relevant equipment to beneficiaries after completing their training.

Trainees in trades such as tailoring and electrical installation, he said, would receive tools to help them begin offering services in their communities.

According to Alausa, the support would enable graduates to establish businesses, earn income and contribute to economic activities within their localities.

Beyond conventional vocational trades, the government is supporting a Digital Technology Academy that currently trains 36,000 Nigerians in specialised fields.

The courses cover software development, cybersecurity, natural language processing, information technology automation, artificial intelligence, machine learning and quantum computing.

Alausa said participants also had access to international learning platforms and professional certification opportunities associated with Coursera, Google and IBM.

He explained that the initiative aimed to prepare young Nigerians for opportunities in the digital economy, including jobs and service contracts within the country and abroad.

The ministry is also improving training infrastructure, upgrading equipment and strengthening instructors’ capacity. It is developing a TVET job portal to connect graduates with prospective employers.

The minister further said education at federal technical colleges and one designated state technical college in each state was free, with the Federal Government covering the associated training costs.

Providing a breakdown of enrolment in some states, Alausa said Bauchi had 4,888 trainees across 50 accredited centres, including 520 in Katagum.

Akwa Ibom recorded 5,885 trainees across 57 centres, while Kogi had 5,144 trainees across 42 centres. In Katsina, about 1,800 trainees were undergoing training in eight newly established technical centres integrated into the programme.

He also highlighted efforts to rehabilitate technical education facilities, including those in the Federal Capital Territory, and improve the quality of instruction through specialised training.

Some lecturers, he disclosed, were participating in a train-the-trainer programme in Lagos with experts from the Singapore Institute of Technical Education.

Alausa acknowledged the need for regular engagement with the National Assembly to improve lawmakers’ understanding of the programme and its implementation.

He promised to provide the committee with detailed statistics on enrolment, accredited centres and training activities across states and local government areas.

The minister also urged lawmakers to visit accredited centres in their constituencies to assess the programme and interact with trainees and training providers.

In his remarks, Laguda described the engagement as fruitful, saying it offered an opportunity to discuss developments in the education sector and progress in technical and vocational training.

He reaffirmed the committee’s commitment to working with the Ministry of Education to strengthen legislative oversight and improve programme delivery.

Laguda expressed optimism that continued cooperation would help the committee make progress during the remaining period of the 10th National Assembly.

Alausa urged lawmakers to raise public awareness of the programme and encourage eligible constituents to explore available training opportunities.

He said the government remained committed to expanding access to technical and vocational education, strengthening accountability and equipping young Nigerians with practical skills for employment and entrepreneurship.