Abuja, Nigeria — The Federal Government has commenced the upgrade of 38 federal and state technical colleges nationwide as part of sweeping reforms aimed at equipping young Nigerians with globally competitive, hands-on skills.
The 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 on Monday in Abuja.
Speaking on the future of Nigeria’s education system, Dr. Alausa emphasized the importance of aligning education with the demands of a knowledge-based, skill-driven economy. He noted that the upgrades form a critical component of the government’s broader efforts to transform the education landscape.
“Through these upgrades, we aim to reposition our technical institutions to produce a workforce ready for global challenges,” Dr. Alausa stated. “The education sector must be retooled to drive innovation, inclusion, and economic growth.”
The stakeholder session addressed several key areas, including strategic priorities, unveiling of new initiatives, and tackling enduring issues such as the high number of out-of-school children
Dr. Alausa outlined six central pillars of the ministry’s reform agenda, which include enhancing quality assurance, reducing the number of out-of-school girls, and expanding access to education through targeted national interventions.
A major highlight of the reforms is the introduction of a dual-training model in the revitalized technical colleges. Under this model, students will devote 80% of their learning time to practical, hands-on training, while 20% will be classroom-based. This structure is designed to bridge the gap between education and employment readiness.
NESRI, described as the flagship initiative of the reforms, encompasses literacy advancement, curriculum overhaul, and the digitization of educational data — all intended to shift Nigeria from a resource-dependent economy to a knowledge-driven one.
“Our goal is to train 5 million young Nigerians with globally relevant skills within the next four years,” Dr. Alausa declared. “We’re also introducing a system where artisans will be compensated to mentor trainees, thereby creating a sustainable value chain within the education sector.”
The Minister underscored the severity of the current education crisis, pointing out that Nigeria has 15 million out-of-school children, with over 45 million classified as learning poor.
Alausa identified adolescent girls — especially the estimated 6 million aged between 12 and 19 who are currently out of school — as a primary focus of ongoing reforms.
In a significant move toward modernization, Dr. Alausa announced that the National Examinations Council (NECO) and the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) would begin conducting computer-based tests by November 2025. He added that full digitization of all national examinations, including the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), is expected by 2027.
“This transition to computer-based testing will not only promote efficiency but will also strengthen examination integrity by reducing fraud,” the Minister affirmed.
The session concluded with a renewed commitment by the Federal Ministry of Education to drive inclusive, skill-oriented, and technology-enabled education reforms that position Nigeria for a more prosperous future.
By Makinde oyinkansola| May 5, 2025
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