TETFund allocates N2.53bn to each varsity under 2026 intervention program – Information minister

The Tertiary Education Trust Fund, TETFund, has approved about N2.53 billion for each public university, N1.87 billion for each polytechnic and N2.06 billion for each College of Education under its 2026 intervention programme.

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, disclosed this on Thursday at the 2026 TETFund North Central Zonal Town Hall Meeting held in Lokoja.

Mr Idris said the allocations reflected the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening tertiary education and developing the human capital needed to drive national development.

He explained that the intervention funds would provide institutions with resources to address critical infrastructure and academic needs.

According to him, the funds will support the construction and rehabilitation of lecture halls and other essential facilities across beneficiary institutions.

He added that the intervention would also facilitate the equipping of laboratories to improve practical learning, scientific research and technological development.

Mr Idris said the modernisation of libraries remained another important area of the intervention, stressing the need for students and researchers to have access to current learning resources.

He noted that research and innovation would also receive attention under the programme, given their importance to solving national development challenges.

The minister said TETFund interventions had continued to make significant contributions to the development of tertiary institutions across the country.

He cited the commissioning of the School of Science Complex at the Nasarawa State College of Education, Akwanga, as one of the projects undertaken to improve teaching and learning.

Mr Idris urged tertiary institutions in the North Central Zone to ensure that their academic programmes responded directly to the economic and developmental needs of the region.

He called for research and training to be aligned with the agricultural, mineral, energy and industrial potentials of the zone.

The minister also encouraged institutions to strengthen partnerships with private-sector organisations to promote innovation, investment and employment opportunities for graduates.

He stressed that stronger collaboration between universities, polytechnics, colleges of education and industries would help bridge the gap between academic knowledge and workplace requirements.

Idris called for greater attention to emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence, automation and digital skills.

He said Nigerian graduates must be equipped with relevant competencies capable of preparing them for rapidly changing workplace demands.

According to him, the transformation of tertiary education should therefore go beyond the provision of physical infrastructure to include technology-driven teaching, research and innovation.

The minister described education as an investment in national security and social stability, noting that educated and skilled young people would be better positioned to contribute positively to society.

He said young Nigerians provided with quality education, relevant skills and meaningful opportunities would be less vulnerable to criminality and extremist activities.

Mr Idris urged TETFund to strengthen transparency, monitoring and accountability in the deployment of intervention funds to ensure that resources achieved their intended objectives.

He said the town hall meeting should not merely provide a platform for discussions but should produce practical priorities, clear responsibilities and measurable outcomes.

Also speaking, Governor Ahmed Ododo of Kogi, called for increased investment in research and innovation to address challenges confronting the country.

Mr Ododo identified agriculture, mining, healthcare, manufacturing, artificial intelligence, renewable energy and security as areas where tertiary institutions could make significant contributions.

He said institutions of higher learning should evolve into solution centres capable of generating ideas and innovations that would address pressing societal problems.

According to him, stronger research capacity in tertiary institutions will contribute to food security, industrial growth, job creation and sustainable development.

The governor commended TETFund for its interventions in infrastructure, research, academic staff development and institutional capacity building.

He assured that the Kogi State Government would continue to provide an enabling environment for TETFund interventions to achieve their objectives.

Similarly, Dr Abdulrahman Ocholi, Member of the TETFund Board of Trustees representing the North Central Zone, called for sustained investment in tertiary institutions.

Mr Ocholi said continuous investment was essential for strengthening human capital development, research, innovation and skills acquisition across the country.

He explained that TETFund interventions under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda had expanded beyond physical infrastructure.

According to him, the interventions now include academic staff development, research, digital transformation, entrepreneurship, innovation and postgraduate scholarships.

Mr Ocholi said the Fund had also supported robotics and coding units, 3D printing facilities, renewable energy projects, biotechnology and artificial intelligence laboratories.

He added that TETFund had supported mini-grid power projects, medical simulation centres and innovation hubs designed to enhance teaching, research and practical skills acquisition.

Mr Ocholi said the North Central Zone, comprising Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger and Plateau states as well as the Federal Capital Territory, had continued to benefit from TETFund interventions.

He listed infrastructure, information and communication technology, library development, research, entrepreneurship and academic staff training among the areas receiving support.

He, however, urged institutions to move beyond infrastructure development by embracing emerging technologies, strengthening research and innovation, improving graduate employability and developing skills relevant to agriculture, industry, science and technology.

Mr Ocholi said the town hall meeting provided an opportunity for TETFund to engage stakeholders, identify priority areas and promote greater accountability and shared responsibility in improving tertiary education across the North Central Zone..
NAN