The Federal Government has released N3.41 bn as monthly stipends to more than 73,000 participants under its Technical and Vocational Education and Training program as part of continuous efforts to deal with joblessness and reinforce technical abilities advancement throughout the country.
Figures acquired from the Federal Ministry of Education showed that the stipend payment formed part of an overall N13.98 bn disbursed under the initiative.
According to the ministry, while N3.41 bn was paid straight to students, another N10.57 bn was allocated to recognized training centres involved in the execution of the program.
The federal government also disclosed that the initiative attracted over 1.3 million applications across the country, reflecting increasing interest in employment and technical education in the middle of economic challenge and restricted job opportunities.
The TVET programme, presented on May 30, 2025, is being executed by the Federal Ministry of Education in cooperation with the Nigerian Education Loan Fund and the Tertiary Education Trust Fund.
The scheme provides tuition-free technical training, monthly stipends, and start-up support in chosen professional fields considered necessary to Nigeria’s financial and industrial growth.
The ministry mentioned that more than 1,700 training and trade centres throughout the nation presently take part in the programme, using training in over 30 trades certified by the National Board for Technical Education.
Under the “Master 6 Programme,” trainees receive 6 months of tuition-free trade training together with a monthly stipend of N22,500.
Individuals enrolled in the “Master 12 Program” undergo one year of advanced technical training with totally free tuition, accommodation, feeding, and regular monthly stipends.
The Federal Government said the initiative was created to gear up young Nigerians with practical and entrepreneurial abilities while producing a swimming pool of competent employees for important sectors of the economy.
The intervention comes amidst growing concerns over joblessness and the widening abilities space within Nigeria’s labour market.
Although the National Bureau of Stats put Nigeria’s unemployment rate at 4.3 percent in the second quarter of 2024 under its modified approach, youth unemployment and underemployment remain substantially high amongst people aged 15 to 34.
The International Labour Organization has actually repeatedly determined abilities mismatch as a major obstacle to decent employment opportunities for young people in developing economies, consisting of Nigeria.
In spite of high unemployment figures, employers in sectors such as building, agriculture, renewable resource, car maintenance, ICT, welding, and mechatronics continue to report scarcities of technically skilled workers.
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Specialists have also long argued that Nigeria’s technical education sector suffered years of neglect caused by inadequate funding, outdated centers, weak industry collaborations, and social preference for university education over vocational training.
As part of continuous reforms, the Federal Government just recently renamed Federal Science and Technical Colleges as Federal Technical Colleges.
Trainees enrolled in the organizations now gain from totally free tuition, feeding, lodging, and a monthly stipend of N5,000.
The ministry disclosed that over 38 federal and state technical colleges had either been upgraded or rearranged under the reform programme.
To improve quality assurance and useful training outcomes, the government said it had partnered with Institute of Technical Education Solutions in Singapore for curriculum development and teacher training.
The National Business and Technical Examinations Board has likewise been designated as the sole National Skills Credentials licensing authority in collaboration with sectoral granting organisations.
The Federal Government said the growth of TVET programs forms part of broader plans to enhance entrepreneurship, reinforce labor force development, and minimize dependence on white-collar employment opportunities.