Kaduna, Nigeria – The National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) has called on the Federal Government to extend financial support to private technical institutions in rural areas to enhance educational opportunities for underprivileged individuals.

Hussaini Musa, a senior programme officer from the NBTE Head Office in Kaduna, made this appeal during an evaluation visit to Blessed Martin’s College of Nursing Sciences in Ohatekwe, Amegu Ikwo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State. The visit, initiated by the institution, aimed at securing approval to award National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) certifications.

Musa emphasized that financial support from the Federal Government would enable private institutions to subsidize tuition fees, making technical education more accessible to local communities.

“Government institutions are not sufficient on their own. This is why we appreciate the emergence of private institutions like this, which help support the Government in providing education, particularly for our indigent citizens,” Musa stated.

The evaluation team, which included representatives from both the Nursing and General Education sectors, assessed the institution’s readiness for accreditation. Musa confirmed that the college met the necessary requirements and was ready to proceed with its accreditation process.

This appeal aligns with NBTE’s ongoing efforts to promote technical education across Nigeria, recognizing the crucial role private institutions play in bridging educational gaps, especially in underserved rural areas.

BusinessDay reports that NBTE has recently undertaken various initiatives, including the unbundling of the HND Computer Science programme, to improve the quality and accessibility of technical education in the country.

Stakeholders in the education sector have expressed optimism that government support for private institutions will create more opportunities for young people to acquire technical skills, ultimately contributing to national development.