The Enugu State Government has proposed N68 billion for the construction of 10 Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) schools as part of its N1.62 trillion 2026 budget presented to the Enugu State House of Assembly.
The allocation was disclosed by the Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Barrister Chris-Roberts Ozongwu, while giving a detailed breakdown of the proposed budget to lawmakers.
Ozongwu said the TVET schools would be built across the state and each facility would be fitted with workshops, science laboratories, modern classrooms, hostels and industry-grade equipment to support practical skills development.
According to him, the investment is designed to strengthen technical education and prepare young people with skills needed for employment, entrepreneurship and industrial growth.
He revealed that 32.27 per cent of the total budget has been allocated to the education sector, reflecting the administration’s commitment to human capital development and long-term economic growth.
Ozongwu described education as “the most effective pathway out of poverty” and said it remains central to Governor Peter Mbah’s plan to position Enugu for a knowledge-driven future.
In addition to the TVET schools, the budget proposes N158 billion for the construction of 16 Smart Senior Secondary Schools equipped with modern, technology-enhanced learning facilities.
The state government also earmarked N30 billion for the equipping and furnishing of existing technical colleges to strengthen the technical education pipeline across the state.
The 2026 budget further includes N15 billion for upgrading 106 public secondary schools into Model Senior Secondary Schools, beginning with two schools in each of the six education zones.
Beyond infrastructure, Ozongwu disclosed that N30 billion has been set aside to provide daily meals for about 260,000 pupils in the 260 Smart Green Schools built across the state.
He said the school feeding programme would ensure that every child receives one balanced meal each school day, describing it as a strategy to reduce malnourishment.
