Examining the Political Economy of Technical Education Reform in Nigeria: Elite Interests and Reform Outcomes

This study examines the political economy of technical and vocational education reform in Nigeria, analysing how elite interests, political competition, and institutional power dynamics shape reform design, implementation, and outcomes. VTE reform in Nigeria has repeatedly fallen short of stated objectives despite substantial policy investment, suggesting that technical and governance explanations alone are insufficient. Political economy analysis, which foregrounds how power, interests, and institutions interact to produce policy outcomes, offers a more comprehensive explanatory lens. This study draws on political economy of education theory, elite theory, and comparative education reform research. A comparative historical qualitative design analyses three major VTE reform episodes in Nigeria from 2004 to the present: the Technical and Vocational Education and Training Policy of 2006, the National Vocational Qualifications Framework introduction, and recent industry-education partnership reform initiatives. Data sources include policy documents, reform implementation records, elite interviews with 35 policy actors including ministerial officials, legislative committee members, and vested interest group representatives, and media and parliamentary debate archives. Critical discourse analysis and process tracing are used. Findings are expected to reveal that reform outcomes are systematically shaped by elite rent-seeking, political patronage in education appointments, and industry capture of qualification standards. Theoretical contributions include a political economy model of VTE reform applicable to comparable African educational systems. Recommendations address reform design strategies that account for political economy constraints. Keywords: political economy, VTE reform, Nigeria, elite interests, education policy