Assessing the Long-Term Sustainability of Public-Private Partnership Models in Technical Education Financing in Nigeria

This study assesses the long-term sustainability of public-private partnership models in financing technical education in Nigeria. Public-private partnerships have been widely promoted as a mechanism for addressing chronic underfunding in Nigerian technical education, mobilising private sector investment in exchange for training access, branding opportunities, and social responsibility credits. However, the long-term sustainability of these partnerships, particularly their ability to survive political transitions, economic downturns, and personnel changes, remains largely unevaluated. This study employs a longitudinal multiple case study design, tracking 12 public-private partnerships in technical education across Lagos, Kano, Port Harcourt, and Enugu States over a five-year research period. Annual data collection cycles gather financial records, governance documents, and stakeholder interviews. Sustainability is assessed across financial, institutional, stakeholder, and outcomes dimensions. System dynamics modelling is used to project long-term sustainability trajectories and identify leverage points for enhancing durability. Findings are expected to reveal that most partnerships are fragile, dependent on key individual relationships, lack formal governance structures, and are vulnerable to disruption by political transitions and corporate strategy changes. A minority of partnerships demonstrate structural characteristics associated with greater sustainability. Theoretical contributions include a dynamic sustainability framework for VTE public-private partnerships grounded in Nigerian empirical evidence. Policy recommendations address partnership structuring, governance design, legal frameworks, and institutional capacity requirements for sustainable financing models. Keywords: public-private partnerships, technical education financing, sustainability, Nigeria, systems dynamics