Resource Mobilisation Strategies for Technical Education Development in Taraba State

This study examines resource mobilisation strategies employed by technical education institutions in Taraba State, North East Nigeria to supplement inadequate government funding. Technical education requires continuous investment in equipment, consumables, and human capacity, yet government allocations in Taraba State have historically fallen short of institutional needs. Understanding how institutions mobilise alternative resources is essential for informing sustainable financing strategies. A descriptive survey design is adopted, with 40 institutional administrators and bursars from 12 technical colleges and polytechnics in Jalingo, Bali, and Wukari local government areas. An interview guide and document analysis examine strategies including alumni fundraising, industry partnerships, commercial unit revenues, international donor grants, and community mobilisation. Thematic analysis and frequency distributions are used for interpretation. Findings are expected to reveal heavy reliance on government grants with limited diversification of funding streams, and few institutions engaging in systematic resource mobilisation beyond routine budgetary processes. The study also identifies success cases where institutions have leveraged alumni networks or commercial ventures effectively. Recommendations include capacity building for institutional financial managers, formalised industry partnership units in technical institutions, and policy incentives for private sector investment in vocational education. This study contributes to educational finance research in North East Nigeria and provides practical resource mobilisation models for technical education institutions operating in resource-constrained environments. Keywords: resource mobilisation, technical education, Taraba State, institutional finance, vocational education