The Nigerian government plans to introduce financial support for students in technical and vocational schools as part of broader reforms to strengthen the country’s workforce.
Education Minister Tunji Alausa announced the initiative during an interview, outlining a four-step plan to boost enrolment in vocational institutions and address skills shortages. He confirmed that students would receive financial assistance, stating, “We would pay students to go to those schools. We’ve modeled how much we’re going to pay them when we roll the program out.”
The reform emphasizes practical training, with 80% hands-on learning and 20% theoretical instruction. Skilled professionals from various industries will mentor students, and the government will compensate these mentors for each student they train. Additionally, performance monitoring officers will be deployed across Nigeria’s 774 local government areas to ensure training quality.
The vocational education system will be structured into three categories: skill training centres, vocational enterprise institutes, and state and federal technical colleges. Training will align with industry needs, guided by a labor gap analysis.
To support graduates, President Bola Tinubu has directed the Ministry of Education to collaborate with the Bank of Industry to provide low-interest credit facilities, enabling them to start businesses.
Alausa highlighted the importance of vocational skills in reversing Nigeria’s brain drain, noting that trades like plumbing can be more lucrative than some professional careers abroad.
