The Federal Government has allocated the remaining 290 admission slots at the Federal Technical College (FTC), Ilesa, to qualified candidates from Ijesaland following the successful graduation of 170 ICDA-sponsored scholars, marking another major milestone in the community's youth empowerment and technical education programme.
The announcement followed the graduation ceremony held at the Federal Technical College, Ilesa, where 170 students of Ijesa origin completed a three-year vocational training programme under the sponsorship of 78 members of the Ijesa Community Development Assembly (ICDA).
Speaking at the ceremony, a former Principal of the institution and Director in the Federal Ministry of Education, Dr. Mrs. Idowu Olabisi Akinbamijo, described the initiative as unprecedented in Nigeria's educational history.
According to her, Ijesaland, through the ICDA, is the first community in the country to organise and sponsor such a large number of indigenous students in a single learning institution.
She disclosed that the remarkable commitment of the Ijesa community to technical education influenced the Federal Government's decision to abolish tuition fees in all 33 Federal Technical Colleges across Nigeria, a policy scheduled to take effect from the September 2026 academic session.
As a further reward for the success of the initiative, the Honourable Minister approved that the remaining 290 admission spaces available at the Federal Technical College, Ilesa, for the forthcoming academic session be reserved exclusively for candidates from Ijesaland.
ICDA Chairman and Asiwaju of Ijesaland, Asiwaju Yinka Fasuyi, described the development as a fresh opportunity for the community to deepen its investment in youth development and skills acquisition.
He noted that with the Federal Government now bearing the cost of tuition, accommodation and feeding, the responsibility before Ijesaland is to identify and mobilise qualified young people to take advantage of the opportunity.
Under the new Federal Government policy, students admitted into the programme will enjoy:
Free tuition throughout the three-year programme.
Free accommodation.
Free feeding.
Monthly stipends.
Professional certification upon graduation.
Opportunities for entrepreneurship and self-employment.
Access to funding to establish businesses after graduation.
Fasuyi called on traditional rulers, community leaders, religious organisations, market associations, clubs, professional bodies and Ijesa sons and daughters at home and in the diaspora to actively mobilise eligible candidates between the ages of 13 and 18 years from the six local government areas of Ijesaland—Oriade, Obokun, Atakumosa East, Atakumosa West, Ilesa East and Ilesa West.
He added that the entrance examination for candidates of Ijesa origin is scheduled for August 2026, with the exact date to be announced in due course.
The ICDA Chairman urged every stakeholder to go beyond celebrating the achievement by identifying at least one qualified young person within their neighbourhood or community to benefit from the vocational training programme.
According to him, the initiative is designed not only to equip young people with technical skills but also to produce entrepreneurs, employers of labour and drivers of sustainable economic development across Ijesaland.
The graduation of the 170 scholars is widely regarded as one of the most significant community-driven technical education success stories in Nigeria, reinforcing Ijesaland's commitment to youth empowerment, skills acquisition and long-term socio-economic development.
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