By Auwal Ahmed Ibrahim, Goronyo
Nigeria’s Minister of Education, Chief (Dr.) Maruf Tunji Alausa (FAMedS), CON, has met with Singapore’s Minister of Education, Mr. Desmond Lee, to reinforce bilateral ties and expand cooperation in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET). Part of the team is the Executive Secretary (E.S) of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) Prof. Idris M. Bugaje.
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The meeting, held in Singapore, also explored new areas of collaboration across the wider education and skills development ecosystem.
During the visit, Dr. Alausa toured the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) and its global subsidiary, ITE Education Services (ITEES), where he inspected cutting-edge facilities at the ITE West and Central Colleges. The tour covered training hubs in Aeronautics, Engineering, Hospitality and other advanced technical disciplines, offering Nigeria valuable insights into Singapore’s highly regarded, industry-responsive TVET model.
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In discussions with ITEES executives, the Minister pushed forward plans to review the existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between ITEES and Professor Idris M. Bugaje the Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE). Proposed updates to the partnership include:
Quality assurance support for three technical colleges in Nigeria
Strengthening the Global Excellence for Skills Education and Training (GEMSET) initiative
A new three-year programme on Artificial Intelligence applications
Leadership development opportunities for heads of institutions
Expanded train-the-trainer schemes in key TVET areas
Back home, the Ministry of Education has rolled out its Free Education Initiative for Federal Technical Colleges and select state-owned technical colleges. The initiative covers tuition and essential amenities, supporting the government’s effort to increase access to quality vocational education. With over 1.3 million applications received under the Ministry’s TVET Programme, priority is now shifting towards job placement and empowering young people to launch micro-enterprises. Plans are also underway to provide additional support for TVET graduates starting small businesses.
The Federal Ministry of Education reaffirms its commitment to developing a globally competitive skills ecosystem through strategic international partnerships and sustained investment in vocational and technical education.