The Federal Government has disbursed N4.7 billion as the initial phase of payments to trainees and accredited centres under the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programme. Education Minister Tunji Alausa confirmed the release in a statement issued on X.
The announcement follows the rollout that began in May and forms part of efforts to expand youth-focused skills training. The minister said more than 42,000 fully registered students have now received the monthly N22,500 stipend for transportation and upkeep, while over 600 accredited independent centres have been paid for the training services they provide.
He said the disbursement marks the first stage of a broader sequence of payments and reflects President Bola Tinubu’s directive for immediate implementation of skills-based empowerment. According to him, the TVET programme has moved rapidly from registration to practical training across the country.
The Ministry of Education said vocational centres, enterprise institutes, and master-craft practitioners were earlier invited to seek accreditation to qualify for government funding. Requirements included Corporate Affairs Commission registration, an NSQ-based curriculum, qualified assessors, quality-assurance systems, and adequate workshop facilities.
The programme allocates 80 per cent of its curriculum to hands-on training, with 20 per cent dedicated to classroom-based theory. Within the first week of the portal opening, the ministry received more than 90,000 applications. Participation in the entrance examination for 2025 rose from 7,547 candidates in 2024 to 30,000.
As implementation expanded, the ministry introduced an artisan-led mentorship structure across 38 upgraded technical colleges, enabling experienced craftsmen and artisans to guide trainees through practical skill acquisition.
