FG Upgrades 38 Technical Colleges
The federal government has upgraded 38 federal and state technical colleges as part of a broad reform to equip Nigerian youths with internationally competitive skills.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, disclosed this during the 2025 Quarterly Citizens and Stakeholders Engagement on the Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative (NESRI) held in Abuja on Monday.
Alausa, who disclosed that the federal government has launched the Technical and Vocational Education Training(TVET), noted that the initiative aims to shift Nigeria’s education system toward a skill-based, knowledge-driven economy.
It targets over 650,000 enrollees, which prioritises 35 trades following an industry gap assessment.
Alausa also disclosed that the government has introduced a dual-training model in the technical colleges, with students spending 80 per cent of their time in practical training and 20 per cent in the classroom.
He noted that the goal is to train 5 million young Nigerians with globally relevant skills within four years.
Speaking on the Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative (NESRI), for Renewed Hope, Alausa stated that the initiative’s priority interventions include TVET, girl-child education, science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and medical data and digitalisation, out-of-school children and education quality assurance.
Highlighting the challenges, Alausa noted that Nigeria currently has 15 million out-of-school children and over 45 million classified as learning poor.
He said adolescent girls, particularly the 6 million aged 12–19 currently out of school, remained a key focus of the reforms.
Also at the event, the minister launched the National Policy on Anti-Bullying in Nigerian Schools and its Implementation Guidelines, aimed at creating safer and more inclusive learning environments for students across the country.
The policy outlines a clear framework for preventing and responding to all forms of bullying in schools, including physical, verbal, psychological, and cyberbullying. It defines the responsibilities of school administrators, teachers, students, parents, and community stakeholders in promoting a culture of respect, empathy, and accountability.
In her welcome address, the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmed, emphasised the importance of collaboration and innovation in transforming the education sector.
“The path to transforming education in Nigeria requires unwavering dedication, collaboration, and innovation,” she said.
“The Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative represents a bold and strategic effort to transform our education system through inclusive policy reforms, quality improvement, accountability, and stronger collaboration with all stakeholders—government, civil society, development partners, parents, teachers, and students alike.
“It is a platform for discussion and deliberation on various initiatives of the ministry in alignment with the Renewed Hope Agenda of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR. This engagement is an avenue for the ministry to inform the citizens of our initiatives and milestones in the delivery of the programmes and projects assigned to our sector by Mr. President.
“Our engagement here today reinforces the commitment of the Federal Ministry of Education to deepen citizens’ participation in shaping the future of education in Nigeria. Through dialogue, transparency, and evidence-based policies, NESRI aims to address the systemic challenges that hinder access, equity, and quality in education,” she said.
FG Upgrades 38 Technical Colleges is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
