NewStats: 3,265,094 , 8,185,654 topics. Date: Friday, 13 June 2025 at 12:49 PM 426h5q

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 ission cycle that will exclude science-based enrolments.
He added that students already in the system would be allowed to complete their studies, but going forward, all new issions 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 , they prefer to enroll into the sciences, and the technical aspects are ignored.

“This measure is taking effect immediately, this coming September when all issions 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 it 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.

https://guardian.ng/news/nigeria/national/why-fg-is-converting-science-schools-to-technical-colleges-bugaje/

Mr President is keen on reviving technical colleges nationwide. He recently approved N45,000 monthly stipend for all technical students across the country. He has subsequently approved the renovation of the schools and installation of standard equipments across board. God bless Nigeria.


-Kiss the truth!

TimeManager:
Mr President is keen on reviving technical colleges nationwide. He recently approved N45,000 monthly stipend for all technical students across the country. He has subsequently approved the renovation of the schools and installation of standard equipments across board. God bless Nigeria.


-Kiss the truth!

is not Mr. President, the E.S of NBTE he's an innovative guy. Their are other innovations he brought in before Tinubu came and I'm a beneficiary of it.

Saao:
is not Mr. President, the E.S of NBTE he's an innovative guy. Their are other innovations he brought in before Tinubu came and I'm a beneficiary of it.

Okay, I have heard you, he approved the Government policies by himself without the President approval. And which innovation in technical colleges are you talking about prior to this istration, care to let us know?


-Kiss the truth!

Technology aids industrialization and knowledge without a platform to sell ur ideas
and technological know how is as frustrating as man who marries a new wife with fallen melons.

D

These guys are clowns. They take decisions without thinking through it. One person just have a thought and next thing is implementing it whether meaningful or otherwise.

Hmmm

GboyegaD:
These guys are clowns. They take decisions without thinking through it. One person just have a thought and next thing is implementing it whether meaningful or otherwise.

It is very meaningful. Technical colleges are highly regarded in countries like and Japan and it is for good reason. No be everything una go criticize.

What are they going to teach in technical colleges? Wood and metal work excluding the sciences, chemistry and Biology? And what will be the end product of the children’s education? Carpenter and Mechanic workshop technicians?

If Nigeria as a country does not scare you, I wonder what will? Because what are these ridiculous policies? Those of you that are still giving birth in this country, I wonder if you have your heads intact? Because you are bringing your children into a very disorganized society.

The fundamental issue with APC is complex
For get the tribalism and forget the corruption

APC in its fundamental selfs are poor thinkers

1) they don't understand fundamentally how development works

Don't get me wrong, but what industries are you targeting with this?

Purchasing power is dropping , unemployment is raising but you re focused on creating more work force?

Saao:
is not Mr. President, the E.S of NBTE he's an innovative guy. Their are other innovations he brought in before Tinubu came and I'm a beneficiary of it.

You dey mind that plantain head.

What's the difference between technical college and polytechnic?

TUANKU:

It is very meaningful. Technical colleges are highly regarded in countries like and Japan and it is for good reason. No be everything una go criticize.

We have too many universities in Nigeria and yet the economy keep regressing. Let's follow the China trend of converting universities to Polytechnics and skills training centers. I it.

Nice one from t-pain. You try for this one.

Most gen z children don't know technical college.

TimeManager:

Okay, I have heard you, he approved the Government policies by himself without the President approval. And which innovation in technical colleges are you talking about prior to this istration, care to let us know?


-Kiss the truth!

google will help you

We have used ego to kill the high potential of this country in the past by elevating University education above technical education. Now we are realizing that no nation can develop while relegating technical education. The world has gone beyond theory, AI will even theoretical world so easy but practical (actionable) world will be difficult to void by AI for a long time.

mrvitalis:
The fundamental issue with APC is complex
For get the tribalism and forget the corruption

APC in its fundamental selfs are poor thinkers

1) they don't understand fundamentally how development works

Don't get me wrong, but what industries are you targeting with this?

Purchasing power is dropping , unemployment is raising but you re focused on creating more work force?

You said nothing here.

What U posted is empty 😂

Saao:
is not Mr. President, the E.S of NBTE he's an innovative guy. Their are other innovations he brought in before Tinubu came and I'm a beneficiary of it.

If he brings innovation and Mr. President does not approve of it,is it implementable? Honour should be given to whom is due,Mr. President got this right

Nice move Tinubu

Nigeria should partner China

TimeManager:


https://guardian.ng/news/nigeria/national/why-fg-is-converting-science-schools-to-technical-colleges-bugaje/

Keep destroying education in Nigeria with your useless policies

I am a product of FSTC, and I can tell you how productive it is when you get to the real world. That sector was well utilized during the Obasanjo regime. Reviving it is a major step in boosting our industries and technological development.Good one, Mr. President.

GboyegaD:
These guys are clowns. They take decisions without thinking through it. One person just have a thought and next thing is implementing it whether meaningful or otherwise.

Okay have you thought through it yourself?

I had always been an advocate of technically colleges.
Good move from this govt of PBAT

When I did a quick check on the number of technical colleges in India, it was around 15,000 colleges. It's no surprise that Indians are some of the most skillful persons in the world, a trait which propelled them to being CEOs of top companies. They don't wholly depend on imported technology, they devise improvise and improve. And that's how they began launching spacecrafts. Read about the man called Abdulkalam. You that noisy generator Lister, read about it. The Keke Napep that's now ubiquitous is an innovation from India.

Now, let's dovetail to Nigeria. We shockingly have 129 technical colleges for a 200+ million people. Per capita, India has new technical college for every hundred thousand people while Nigeria has one per 1 million persons. The current drive by the likes of Bugaje to restore and improve technical education is laudable. It's one of the few things I give a thumbs up to the present government.

Saao:
is not Mr. President, the E.S of NBTE he's an innovative guy. Their are other innovations he brought in before Tinubu came and I'm a beneficiary of it.

I fully agree. Federal Government got it right this time by appointing this current executive secretary NBTE. This guy is loaded and need to be ed.

..this ones want to start what they can never finish..does this guys really understand the hell is talking about...?

..you can't convert secondary schools into technical Colleges just like you pick underage girls for marriages..

..instead of doing that & leaving the science to be uninterested..you Set up new Colleges of education or Re establish the existi g ones..

..this idea is just for peoöle who don't like science..