Nigeria Opens TVET Cohort 2, Offering N22,500 Monthly Stipend to Trainees

The Federal Government has relaunched its flagship vocational training initiative, inviting Nigerian youth into a nationwide programme that blends hands-on skills training with financial support and formal certification.

Federal Government has officially opened applications for the second cohort of its Technical and Vocational Education and Training programme, known as TVET, with registration beginning today across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

The announcement, made by Boriowo Folasade, Director of Press and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Education, positions the renewed programme as a central pillar of the government’s strategy to reduce youth unemployment and build a technically capable workforce.

N22,500

Monthly stipend per trainee

6–12 mo.

Training duration options

30,000

Candidates in 2025 entrance exam

N4.7bn

First tranche paid out, Dec 2025

What the programme offers

Successful applicants will undergo either six months or one year of intensive, predominantly hands-on training at accredited centres located across the country. 

Each trainee will receive a monthly stipend of N22,500 for the full duration of the programme and, upon completion, will be awarded a nationally recognised certification.

The curriculum follows a structure in which 80 percent of instruction is practical and only 20 percent is classroom-based,a design intended to produce graduates who are immediately useful to employers or capable of setting up their own enterprises.

Training will span a broad range of sectors:

Construction

 ICT 

Automotive technology 

Creative media 

Agriculture 

Fashion & garment production

CosmetologyTourism & hospitality

Catering

Leather works

As a new addition to this cohort, the Federal Ministry of Education will partner with the Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture and Tourism to expand training in the creative and cultural trades, with the aim of unlocking what the government describes as Nigeria’s underexploited creative economy.

“By providing practical training and recognised certification, we are creating pathways for self-employment, innovation, and long-term economic growth.” — Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa

Accountability and eligibility

The government has built accountability mechanisms directly into the programme’s structure. Attendance will be tracked using biometric verification systems, and stipend payments will only be made to trainees who meet the required attendance thresholds. Applicants must commit to full and consistent participation throughout their chosen training period.

To register, prospective trainees must provide a National Identification Number and Bank Verification Number. Applications are open through the official portal at www.tvet.education.gov.ng.

Building on cohort one

The relaunch follows a notably successful first cohort. When the TVET portal first went live in 2025, it received more than 90,000 applications within a week. Participation in the entrance examination grew sharply,from 7,547 candidates in 2024 to 30,000 in 2025, an increase of nearly 300 percent.

In December 2025, the government disbursed N4.7 billion as the first tranche of payments to trainees and accredited training centres, signalling a commitment to delivering on its financial promises.

As the programme scaled, the Ministry introduced an artisan-led mentorship model across 38 upgraded technical colleges, pairing trainees with experienced craftsmen and practitioners in their chosen fields. That model is expected to continue and expand under cohort two.

The programme operates through accredited private and public training centres that meet minimum standards set by the Ministry, including registration with the Corporate Affairs Commission, qualified instructors, adequate workshop facilities, and an NSQ-aligned curriculum, giving the initiative reach far beyond the federal government’s own institutional footprint.