FG to Pay Nigerians for Enrolling in Vocational Schools, Says Education Minister

In a bold move to address Nigeria’s skilled labor shortage and boost economic growth, the federal government has announced plans to provide financial incentives for students enrolling in technical and vocational schools.

Minister of Education Tunji Alausa disclosed this initiative during an interview on Politics Today, a Channels Television program, on Tuesday. He emphasized the government’s commitment to equipping Nigerians with practical skills that would make them employable and entrepreneurial.

Vocational schools in Nigeria train students in hands-on skills such as carpentry, welding, electrical installation, plumbing, ICT, and fashion design. These institutions, regulated by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), cater to junior and senior secondary school leavers, offering industry-relevant certifications.

Alausa outlined a four-step strategy to increase enrollment in these schools, including direct monetary incentives for students, funding for institutions, mentorship programs with master craftspersons, and a robust monitoring system to ensure quality education and training.

One of the most significant aspects of this initiative is the government’s plan to pay students to attend vocational schools. The government will also cover training costs through dissertation fees and introduce structured, hands-on mentorship programs where experienced professionals from various industries will guide students. These master trainers will receive a monthly stipend for each student under their mentorship.

“We would pay students to go to these schools. We have already modeled how much we’re going to pay them, and we’ll be announcing that soon,” Alausa revealed. “What we will be doing with technical education will be 20% didactic learning and 80% hands-on training.”

To guarantee that students receive the highest quality training, the government plans to recruit 774 performance monitoring officers—one for each local government—tasked with overseeing the effectiveness of these programs.

“We’ll check in regularly to make sure students are being properly trained,” Alausa stated. “We will ask industry professionals how many students they can train. If they say 10, we will assign them 10 and pay them for each student, ensuring accountability and structured learning.”

The ministry has designed a structured framework to classify vocational education into three categories:

Skill Training Centers: Six-month programs targeting school dropouts and individuals who did not complete primary or junior secondary education. Vocational Enterprise Institutes: Designed for those seeking specialized technical skills. State and Federal Technical Colleges: Offering advanced training for higher-skilled professions.

Alausa emphasized that the curriculum will be informed by labor market analysis to ensure training aligns with industry demands, incorporating emerging skills relevant to the modern economy.

President Bola Tinubu has directed Alausa to collaborate with the Bank of Industry’s CEO to facilitate low-interest loans for vocational trainees. This move is part of a broader national strategy to shift Nigeria’s economy from a resource-based model to a knowledge-driven economy.

Reversing Brain Drain and Boosting Local Workforce

Highlighting the financial potential of vocational careers, Alausa compared the earnings of tradespeople in developed nations to professionals in white-collar jobs. “In the UK or the US today, a plumber earns more than a doctor,” he noted, advocating for a shift in perception regarding vocational careers.

The government’s efforts aim to curb the ongoing emigration of skilled workers by making vocational education more attractive and rewarding.