* Prof Idris Bugaje,
Executive Secretary, National Board for Technical Education.
By Pathfinder
Monday June 2, 2025
Please, share this story:
The Federal Government says it is converting Federal Science and Technical Colleges (FSTC) to full-fledged Federal Technical Colleges (FTC) to overhaul technical education in the country.
The Executive Secretary, National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), Prof. Idris Bugaje, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.
Bugaje said the reform was part of a broader strategy to reposition Nigeria’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sector as a viable and attractive pathway for youth employment and economic development.
According to him, the transition will begin in September, marking the start of a new admission cycle that will exclude science-based enrolment.
He added that students already in the system would be allowed to complete their studies, but going forward, all new admissions would be strictly for technical education.
“That is a very smart, timely intervention. Before, there used to be federal technical colleges; somebody came in and smuggled science into them.
”So, when students register, they prefer to enroll into the sciences, and the technical aspects are ignored.
“This measure is taking effect immediately, this coming September when all admissions will be for technical education,” he said
Bugaje said the President had approved provision of infrastructure, more equipment, more facilities to make technical education attractive.
According to him, most polytechnics admit students from general secondary schools due to the limited number of technical colleges.
He said there were only 129 technical colleges nationwide compared to over 15,000 conventional secondary schools.
“That is going to change. We expect state governments to follow suit by converting some conventional secondary schools into technical colleges.
” Technical colleges are the proper feeder institutions for polytechnics,” he said.
Beyond secondary education, Bugaje explained that the government was also reviewing the status of higher institutions.
Citing China’s 2017 conversion of over 600 universities into polytechnics and skills training centres, Bugaje proposed a similar approach to address the imbalance in the education system.
“There’s a troubling trend of polytechnics being converted into universities, which is repressive to the growth of technical education.
“However, if they must be converted, let them remain within the TVET family—as TVET universities.
“The Minister has agreed to this, and with this policy shift, Nigeria is aiming for a renaissance in technical education that aligned with global best practices,” he said.
Bugaje added that the policy shift would prepare the youth for employment, entrepreneurship, and innovation in a fast-evolving economy.
Free tuition
Recall that the Education Minister, Dr Tunji Alausa announced last Friday in Abuja that the federal government has approved free tuition, feeding, and accommodation for students in federal and state technical colleges across the country to further reposition technical education in Nigeria.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, disclosed this on Friday in Abuja at the official launch of the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) initiative themed ‘Advancing Skills, Empowering the Future’.
According to the minister, the package also includes a monthly stipend of N22,500 for students enrolled in the colleges.
“Out of the 5.2 million students that graduate from secondary schools annually, only about 1.8 million gain admission into tertiary institutions.
“The remaining 3.4 million are left behind. This initiative is to bridge that gap,” Alausa said.
He added that the programme is part of a larger plan to reposition the education system by training over seven million Nigerian youths in talent and skills acquisition to meet the practical needs of the nation’s economy.
“We are moving from a result-based to a knowledge-based economy. With this gesture, we aim to attract more young Nigerians into technical education and equip them with relevant, market-driven skills that will make them productive and self-reliant,” the minister stated.
Alausa further revealed that the government would invest billions of naira in the project, covering the cost of training, certification, internet connectivity, and other logistics to ensure equitable access, especially in underserved communities.
Upon completion of their training, beneficiaries will also receive starter packs and access to single-digit loans in partnership with the Bank of Industry to help them launch their careers or small businesses.
Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Ahmed, described TVET as the “backbone of national progress” and a pathway to turning the nation’s potential into purposes
“The skills developed through TVET are the foundation for a prosperous and resilient Nigeria. This is not just about acquiring skills—it’s about restoring hope, dignity, and building the Nigeria we believe in,” she said.
Also speaking at the event, the Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), Prof. Idris Bugaje, urged the government to raise the stipend to align with the national minimum wage, insisting that such an adjustment is both necessary and achievable.
Bugaje emphasized that the Nigerian Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF) embedded within the TVET initiative goes beyond educational reform.
“It is a strategic investment in the nation’s future and requires a collective commitment to transform Nigeria’s human capital landscape,” he said.
We are here to serve you news and information.
Your donations, reactions, and advert placement are welcome.
Contact us on 08033783144 (WhatsApp)
08023469999(WhatsApp)
idowuadelusi@yahoo.com,adelusiidowu@yahoo.com, idowuadelusi@gmail.com,
thepathfindernews0@gmail.com
Follow our reports also on X @idowuadelusi and Facebook (Idowu Oluwole Adelusi)