Federal Government introduces education reforms to boost job creation

The Federal Government has announced education reforms aimed at job creation and economic growth, Minister of Education Dr Olatunji Alausa told delegates at the 32nd Nigerian Economic Summit in Abuja.

The reforms introduce a revised national curriculum for the 2025/2026 academic session, expanded technical and vocational training, digital skills development and a pilot entrepreneurship certification in 14 universities.

Alausa said the overhaul cuts senior secondary subjects and adds Digital Technologies and trade subjects to raise digital literacy and practical skills. He noted that nearly 250,000 Nigerians are enrolled in the TVET initiative, now focused on 28 market‑relevant trades after a labour‑market analysis. Trainees receive a monthly stipend of ₦30,000 and training centres are paid ₦50,000 per learner, while tuition at federal technical colleges remains free.

He said about 80 percent of TVET training is practical and the rest theoretical, and that the programme attracted roughly 1.4 million applications within two weeks of the latest portal opening. He stressed the need for digital competencies such as software development, cybersecurity and data analytics, and called for stronger partnerships between schools, employers and industry to embed internships, mentorship and recognised certifications.

To promote entrepreneurship, the government is piloting the Entrepreneurial Innovation and Business Incubation Certification programme, which aims to give students the knowledge and experience to turn ideas into businesses. Alausa reaffirmed the commitment to six priority areas, STEMM, TVET, reducing out‑of‑school children, girl‑child education, data and digitalisation, and quality assurance, as essential for reducing unemployment and enhancing national productivity.