WorldStage– The Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), disclosing that nearly 250,000 Nigerians are undergoing skills training across more than 1,200 accredited training centres nationwide.
Dr Alausa made this known during an engagement with the House of Representatives Committee on Polytechnic and Higher Technical Education, chaired by Hon. Fuad Kayode Laguda, where he presented updates on the programme’s implementation, achievements, funding, enrolment and accountability mechanisms.
Briefing the Committee further, the Minister expatiated on programme implementation, ₦30,000 monthly stipends, starter packs and rising applications.
He disclosed that the latest TVET application portal recorded nearly 1.4 million applications within two weeks, surpassing the 1.3 million applications received during the first cohort within ten days.
He said the figures reflected growing public interest in technical and vocational education as a pathway to employment, entrepreneurship and economic advancement.
Alausa commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his support for the education sector, noting that the administration had renewed national attention to technical and vocational education as a strategic investment in human capital development and economic growth.
He explained that the Federal Government was rebuilding the TVET ecosystem to equip young Nigerians with practical, industry-relevant skills that would enable them to secure employment, establish businesses and compete in an increasingly skills-driven global economy.
Addressing concerns about access to training opportunities, the Minister said the admission process was designed to be transparent, accessible and merit-based, with eligible applicants applying through a centralised online portal. Applicants provide relevant information, including their National Identification Number (NIN) and biometric details, to support verification.
He added that the allocation of available training opportunities took account of geographical representation across states and local government areas, given the programme’s limited capacity relative to the number of applicants.
