Nigeria Approves ₦45,000 Monthly Stipend for Technical College Students

The Federal Government of Nigeria has approved a monthly stipend of ₦45,000 for students enrolled in technical colleges across the country.

The announcement was made by the Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), Professor Idris Bugaje, during a media briefing in Abuja. According to him, the initiative is part of broader reforms under President Bola Tinubu’s administration aimed at making Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) a more attractive and viable alternative to traditional university education.

Beyond the stipend, the government will also cover tuition fees, provide allowances for industry-based supervisors—referred to as “master class” instructors—and pay for skills certification.

“With this initiative, young people will find it more attractive to attend technical colleges, acquire skills qualifications, and secure jobs both locally and internationally,” Bugaje said. “The whole sector is being repositioned. What we are witnessing is a rebirth of TVET in Nigeria.”

He noted that TVET once received significant attention during colonial times and the early post-independence era, but had fallen into neglect since the 1980s. Currently, there are only 129 technical colleges in Nigeria compared to more than 15,000 senior secondary schools.

To support the programme, the government has earmarked ₦120 billion to be disbursed through the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND). Bugaje clarified that the ₦45,000 monthly payment is a grant, not a loan, and does not require repayment.

“This is not a loan. It is a grant designed to encourage more young Nigerians to consider technical education as a serious and rewarding path,” he stated.

To further ensure sustainability, Bugaje disclosed that the Minister of Education is backing a legislative proposal to establish a National Skills Fund under the Nigerian Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF). The bill, he said, will soon be presented to the National Assembly.

“The idea has been around for years, but the current minister has moved to actualize it. Once passed, the National Skills Fund will finance both public and private TVET institutions across the country,” he added.