By Ngozi Nwankwo
Federal Government has raised concerns on the numerous challenges facing the process of implementation of Technical, Vocational Education and Training,TVET, and Science Education systems, calling for stakeholders, development partners, and private sectors’ intervention to address them.
The federal government made the call at a one day forum on the Harnessing, Harmonizing, and Collaboration (HHC) of special interventions on Technical, Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and Science Education.
It was gathered that FG launched landmark TVET programme to equip youths for jobs and nation -building. It was also a bold step taken by the Ministry of Education to tackle youth unemployment and drive industrial development.
Speaking at the event titled: Unifying Efforts for Impact, the Director Technology and Science Education, Mrs Mujubat Adenike Olodo identified the challenges facing implementation of TVET to include: inadequate funding, outdated curricula, and insufficient industry linkage, advocating need for absolute intervention to enable the initiative give the expected results.
Imploring the stakeholders to share best practices, and explore innovative solutions to these challenges facing TVET and Science Education systems,
Olodo said the Ministry has ensured that various stakeholders, including State governments, government agencies, private sectors, organizations and civil society groups are being carried along for effective collaboration and partnership.
The director reminded the participants that there is a Ministerial Committee on Harmonisation of all development partners’ programmes domiciled in Minister’s office, saying the outcome of the one day forum would be subject to the Terms of Reference,ToRs,of that Committee.
“While you are doing this, please do not lose sight of the fact that there is a ministerial committee on the harmonisation of all development partners’ programs. There is a standardized framework that ensures all training programs are properly accredited and certified in a seamless and orderly manner, supported by modernized policies and industry-relevant curricula, sustainable funding, and a strong governance and structure. The TVET system is being progressively transformed to deliver quality and consistency across all levels.
“The Nigeria government is committed, as demonstrated strong commitment to TVET, by integrating skills development into national education policy, and we are all aware of that, as well as budgetary provisions. The initiative in TVET partnerships with all levels is strong national, public, government, and private sector,” she said.
Speaking more on the TVET initiative, Olodo said TVET curriculum has been reviewed and developed by the National Board for Technical Education, NBTE, in collaboration with key industry stakeholders to align with industry demands, ensuring that all graduates are equipped with relevant practical skills.
Explaining further she said, “We are also currently mapping Industry for partnerships with technical colleges for student third-world experience.
“And technical colleges’ NEED Assessment is also going to be conducted. The process is ongoing. This is to identify infrastructural gaps and teacher skills gaps.”
In the categories of the TVET training, Olodo said, “We have had several meetings with principals of the technical colleges. These states have been identified as the group’s skills. These skills are grouped sector by sector.
“We have the construction and infrastructure skills; We have the digital and media skills; Technical and automotive skills; Specialized technical skills; Renewable energy skills. Agricultural skills; Service and creative skills. We have this TVET initiative being embedded into different components of programs. We have the Master 6, which involves the skills training centers and everybody has the opportunity to register for training in the skills training centers. Two cycles will be conducted per year. The only requirement is National Identification Number,NIN.
“The duration is six months, and at the end of that, the trainees will have certificates. The second one is the Master 12, which involves the vocational enterprises institutions. And this is the 12-month program.It will be taking off in the next few weeks. The requirement is NIN.”
She, however, cleared the air on the TVET initiative incentives saying,” The Master six trainees will be paid N22,500 monthly stipend, adding that government is going to pay for their certification, as well as their training and their safety. The same thing goes to Master 12 trainees. N22,500 per month. And that is going to be for 12 years.
“The Master six is for six months. For the Technical Colleges, the students will be receiving N5,000 monthly because they will be fed within the school, they will be accommodated within the school, provided with other amenities within the school. So their stipend is just like a pocket money that they will use in various of things for themselves.
“The duration for technical college students is three years. During the program, they will be going into the industries for training. At that point, they will be given N15,000 per month, as opposed to N5,000 per month when they are going to school.”
Speaking also, the Head of Programmes, GIZ/ SKYE, Britta Van Erckelens said the focus of harnessing and harmonising special interventions within Nigeria’s TVET system is both timely and critical, adding that without coordinated frameworks and platforms for alignment, these fragmented interventions risk operating in silos, duplicating efforts, and missing opportunities for broader systemic impact.
The Programme Head, therefore, advocated urgent need for an integrated approach that not only consolidates the interventions but fosters multi-stakeholder collaboration between federal and state TVET boards, employment promotion agencies, development partners, and the private sector.
