The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to transforming Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) into a major driver of economic renewal following the presentation of a National Needs Assessment Report conducted by UNESCO in partnership with GIZ and the World Bank.
The nationwide assessment, carried out in July 2025, evaluated 320 Federal and State Technical Colleges across all states and the FCT. The review covered infrastructure, staffing, curriculum relevance, digital readiness, industry linkages, and institutional capacity.
Receiving the report, the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, CON, described it as “a roadmap for reform” under the Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative. He acknowledged existing challenges, including infrastructure deficits, shortages of qualified instructors, weak industry partnerships, and limited digital connectivity.
However, he emphasized that reforms are already underway. According to him, Federal Technical Colleges are now tuition-free, while trade offerings have been streamlined to align with labour market demand. He added that workshop rehabilitation is ongoing across institutions.
The minister also disclosed that over 100,000 students are currently enrolled in national skills programmes supported with stipends.
The report outlined six key reform pillars: infrastructure modernization, workforce strengthening, curriculum updates, industry collaboration, digital transformation, and sustainable financing. The Federal Government reiterated its resolve to rebuild TVET into a modern, industry-aligned, and digitally enabled system to drive youth employment and national development.
