Stakeholders at the Kaduna International Education Summit, EduPACT 2025, have proposed an ambitious N440 billion investment plan to transform Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in Kaduna State.
The summit also advocated for the integration of the Almajiri education system into formal learning structures.
The three-day summit, which concluded at the weekend, recommended extensive reforms to align school curricula with industry demands, establish vocational hubs, and convert traditional learning centres into engines of economic empowerment.
Presenting the communiqué, Kaduna State Commissioner for Education, Prof. Abubakar Sani Sambo, stated that participants emphasised the need to allocate a minimum of 15% of the state’s education budget to TVET, describing it as a critical strategy for reducing youth unemployment and promoting inclusive development.
Sambo explained that the proposed N440 billion TVET roadmap is expected to rely on public-private partnerships, the establishment of centres of excellence in key trade areas, and structured apprenticeship programmes aimed at equipping thousands of youths with practical, job-ready skills.
The summit also endorsed a comprehensive reform of the Almajiri system, calling for the inclusion of Almajiri children in vocational training programmes, the removal of barriers such as mandatory school uniforms and PTA levies, and the engagement of religious leaders as key advocates for the transformation.