Breaking: FG Announces N45,000 Monthly Stipend for Technical College Students Nationwide
To boost technical and vocational education in Nigeria, the Federal Government has declared that students enrolled in technical colleges across the country will now receive a monthly stipend of N45,000.
This was revealed in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)by Professor Idris Bugaje, the Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE).
According to Prof. Bugaje, the initiative is part of ongoing efforts to reposition Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in Nigeria and make it more appealing to young people.
“With this, young people will find it more attractive to come to a technical college, acquire skills qualifications, get jobs locally and even beyond the borders of Nigeria,” he stated.
Bugaje emphasized that the TVET sector is currently experiencing what he described as a “resurrection or rebirth,” after decades of neglect. He pointed out that during the colonial era and the early post-independence period, technical education was highly valued. However, since the 1980s, interest and investment in the sector had dwindled significantly.
“The number of technical colleges has dropped to just 129 nationwide, compared to about 15,000 senior secondary schools,” he lamented.
He clarified that the N45,000 stipend is not a loan but a grant, stressing that beneficiaries will not be required to repay the money.
“We want to encourage more people to enroll in technical education,” he said.
