By Ene Rebecca
August 26, 2026
The Federal Government has directed polytechnics across Nigeria to discontinue non-technical courses that fall outside their statutory mandate, as part of efforts to strengthen technical and vocational education.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, gave the directive in Abuja while inaugurating the Governing Board of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE).
Alausa urged institutions under the supervision of the NBTE to prioritise applied sciences, engineering, technology, innovation and other technical disciplines designed to equip students with practical skills for the workplace.
He said technical and vocational education should no longer be regarded as an alternative for students who could not secure university admission, stressing that Nigeria needs a skilled technical workforce to support industrial development and improve productivity.
According to the minister, the government is pursuing reforms aimed at aligning education with industry requirements while equipping graduates with practical skills that can enhance employment, entrepreneurship and international competitiveness.
Alausa also directed the new NBTE board to accelerate the Recognition of Prior Learning programme in collaboration with the Industrial Training Fund and other stakeholders. The programme is intended to assess and certify the skills of experienced artisans under the National Skills Qualification Framework, which the minister said could improve access to employment, financing and government contracts.
He further called for the modernisation of academic programmes through Outcome Based Education, with curricula incorporating areas such as digital technology, automation, artificial intelligence, green technology and advanced manufacturing systems. He also tasked the board with ensuring accountability in the use of public funds allocated to technical education and skills development.
The minister said the reforms form part of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which identifies education and human capital development as priorities for economic growth. The measures are aimed at shifting emphasis from certificates alone towards practical competence and skills relevant to Nigeria’s industrial needs.
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