FG declares free lessons in technical colleges, to pay the monthly salaries N22,500 to students – Thage

By Victor Osula, Abuja

The Federal Government has declared a free education for students enrolled in federal and state technical colleges across the country.

The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, made the announcement on Friday at the launch of the technical and professional initiative for education and training (tvet) in Abuja.

He said that the students of the technical universities will enjoy free lessons, accommodation, nutrition and receive a monthly salary of N22.500.

According to the minister, the initiative is designed to attract young Nigerians to Tvet programs and encourage them to acquire practical and relevant skills for the modern workforce.

Speaking also to the event, the executive secretary of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), Prof. Idris Bugaje, said that the initiative is part of a wider strategy to reposition the Tvet sector as an alternative to traditional university education.

He observed that politics aims to accelerate the development of Tvet in Nigeria and significantly increase registration at a secondary level.

“With this, young people will find more attractive to enroll in technical universities, acquire professional qualifications and safe works, both in Nigeria and internationally. This marks a turning point for the sector. What we are witnessing is a resurrection or a rebirth of Tevet in Nigeria,” said Bugaje.

He recalled that a technical and professional education once held a prominent place during the colonial era and in the early years of Nigeria’s independence.

However, the sector began to decrease in the 80s, leading to a drastic reduction in the number of technical colleges.

“Today, there are only 129 technical colleges in the country compared to over 15,000 senior secondary schools,” he added.

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