The Federal Government has commenced approval and training processes for nearly one million Nigerian youths under the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Initiative, a flagship empowerment programme supported by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) and the Bank of Industry (BOI).
The Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, disclosed this during an inspection visit to AFS Vocational Hub, Garki, and Golden Finger Farms and Ranches Ltd in Abuja. He said applicants are advised to check their dashboards for updates on their approval status.
Alausa explained that the initiative aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which seeks to transform Nigeria from a resource-dependent economy into a knowledge- and skills-driven one.
He revealed that since the programme’s launch in May, over 1.3 million applications were received, with about 960,000 verified through the National Identification Number (NIN) and Bank Verification Number (BVN) processes.
According to him, 250,000 applicants have been approved and enrolled in the first cohort across 2,600 training centres nationwide.
The Minister said the Federal Ministry of Education streamlined 86 trades into 28 key sectors such as fashion design, hospitality, plumbing, livestock production, GSM repair, and modern agriculture, with a curriculum that is 90 per cent practical and 10 per cent theoretical.
Under the scheme, each approved trainee receives a ₦22,500 monthly stipend, while accredited training centres earn ₦45,000 per participant. Graduates will also receive starter packs and access to BOI single-digit loans to establish small and medium-scale enterprises.
Dr. Alausa further stated that five per cent of TETFund’s annual budget has been allocated to support the TVET programme, guaranteeing its sustainability and national expansion.
“Technical and vocational education now stands at the centre of our national development agenda. Through the partnership of TETFund and BOI, we are empowering Nigerians with skills that will create jobs and reduce poverty. This is Renewed Hope in Action,” he said.
He commended the enthusiasm of the trainees and the quality of training at the centres he inspected, noting that many of the participants are tertiary-educated Nigerians seeking practical, industry-relevant skills.
The TVET initiative, alongside other interventions such as the Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) and the Tertiary Institutions Skills Support Fund (TISSF), reflects the Federal Government’s determination to promote entrepreneurship, innovation, and inclusive economic growth.
