By Our Correspondent
National News – The Federal Government has disbursed ₦3.41bn in monthly stipends to over 73,000 TVET trainees across Nigeria.
The intervention aims to reduce youth unemployment and close the country’s widening skills gap.
The programme is run by the Federal Ministry of Education in partnership with NELFUND and TETFund.
It was launched on May 30, 2025 and targets vocational skills development nationwide.
The government also revealed that ₦10.57bn was paid to accredited training centres under the scheme.
Meanwhile, ₦3.41bn was paid directly as stipends to trainees enrolled in the programme.
More than 1.3 million Nigerians applied, reflecting strong demand for vocational education and training.
The TVET scheme operates through over 1,700 accredited centres nationwide across 30 priority trade areas.
Participants receive free tuition, practical training, and monthly stipends of ₦22,500.
The programme includes “Master 6” for six-month training and “Master 12” for one-year advanced technical education.
Officials say the programme is designed to create a skilled workforce for industries such as ICT, agriculture, construction, renewable energy, and automotive services.
Experts note that Nigeria’s labour market still faces a major skills mismatch despite falling headline unemployment figures.
They argue that sustained investment in technical education is key to job creation and industrial growth.
The Federal Government has also upgraded technical colleges and expanded international partnerships to improve training quality.
It has repositioned certification systems to align with global labour standards and industry needs.
These reforms aim to strengthen vocational education and reduce dependence on white-collar jobs.
Analysts say the initiative could improve employability and entrepreneurship if properly sustained and monitored.
Government officials add that enrolment continues to rise as more youths embrace vocational training opportunities nationwide.
The FG says the programme remains a key strategy for economic diversification and long-term job creation in Nigeria.
