The Federal Government has announced the successful upgrade of 38 technical colleges across the country, as part of ongoing efforts to reform Nigeria’s education sector and prepare young citizens with modern skills suited for global competition.
This announcement was made by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, during the 2025 Quarterly Citizens and Stakeholders Engagement on the Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative (NESRI) held in Abuja.
Dr. Alausa noted that the upgraded technical institutions span both federal and state levels. He said the goal is to shift Nigeria’s educational approach from theory-based learning to one that focuses on practical, hands-on experience.
According to him, this will help the country transition into a knowledge-driven economy.
As part of the reform, a new dual-training model has been introduced in the technical colleges. Under this system, students will spend 80% of their study time on practical work and the remaining 20% on theoretical instruction.
Dr. Alausa explained that the government would also involve artisans in the process by paying them to serve as mentors to the students. This, he said, creates a fresh value chain within the education system.
“Our goal is to train 5 million young Nigerians with globally relevant skills within four years,” he stated.
The minister also spoke about the wider challenges in the education sector. He noted that there are currently 15 million out-of-school children in Nigeria and over 45 million children who are considered learning poor. He added that adolescent girls—especially the 6 million aged 12 to 19 who are not in school—are a major focus of the new policy reforms.
In a move to improve examination integrity, Dr. Alausa revealed that national examinations would soon go digital. Starting in November 2025, the National Examinations Council (NECO) and the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) will begin conducting computer-based tests (CBT). By 2027, all national exams, including JAMB, are expected to be fully digitized.
The Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Ahmad, also noted the importance of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in closing the country’s skills gap and reducing dependence on foreign labor.
“We have seen companies hiring 60 per cent of their workforce from abroad. That must change,” she said.
In support of the reforms, Senator Muntari Dandutse, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFund, assured continued legislative backing. He described education as “the heart of national transformation.”
