The Nigerian government has approved 48 billion Naira for 12 selected engineering and technology universities to rehabilitate workshops and procure modern equipment.
The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, stated this at the inauguration of the Implementation Committee on Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) Special High-Impact Intervention Projects held in Abuja, Nigeria.
He said the selected tertiary institutions will get 4 billion each from the intervention fund.
He said the intervention targets the rehabilitation of Engineering and Technology faculties in Federal Universities of Technology (FUTs) and conventional universities as well as bridge the gap between theory and practice nationwide.
“The funds would either be used to upgrade existing facilities or support the construction of new engineering workshops where necessary.
“The initiative, implemented through TETFund, was designed to strengthen practical training and bridge the gap between theory and industry requirements as well as commercialize research,” he said
According to the minister, the special intervention would equally provide modern workshops, advanced laboratories, and industry-relevant equipment to improve graduate employability.
He explained that the High-Impact Intervention Project is a strategic initiative aimed at upgrading laboratories, workshops, and research facilities to position Nigerian institutions as hubs of innovation and practical problem-solving.
He said the allocated money alone does not guarantee results, as success depends on effective implementation, strict adherence to standards, transparency, and accountability.
He said the inauguration of the committee is both necessary and timely, urging them to adhere to the terms of reference for better outcomes..
“Your mandate is clear: monitor project execution, ensure compliance with approved specifications and timelines, evaluate outcomes, identify challenges, and provide objective reports to guide policy decisions.
“You are entrusted with safeguarding public investment and ensuring value for money. Every facility delivered under this intervention must reflect quality, sustainability, and relevance to national needs,” said the minister
Alausa also mandated the committee to submit periodic reports and recommend sanctions for non-compliant institutions to the Ministry of Education and TETFund.
He pointed out that the allocated funds are not part of the N20 billion naira that had been provided in the 2026 TETFund guidelines to upgrade engineering facilities in other selected institutions.
The minister added that the intervention aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, which prioritises skills development and economic diversification.
Earlier, the Minister of State for Education, Suwaiba Said Ahmad, said the intervention was strategic to Nigeria’s aspirations for industrialisation, innovation and sustainable economic growth.
She stressed that funding alone was not enough to guarantee impact, noting that effective implementation, strict adherence to standards, transparency and accountability were critical.
The Executive Secretary of TETFund, Sonny Echono, who described the ceremony as one of several initiatives endorsed by President Bola Tinubu to reposition tertiary institutions and strengthen teaching and learning infrastructure, expressed appreciation to him for approving the reforms aimed at transforming Nigeria’s education landscape.
He also commended the National Assembly for recommending that attention should be given to the restoration of first- and second-generation universities across the nation for them to meet global standards.
Responding on behalf of the committee members, their Chairman Ali Rabiu who is also the President of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) pledged the members’ commitment to the successful implementation of the project.
“The assignment is a distinct honour and we appreciate the confidence placed in us and our respective organisations. We accept the responsibility and would contribute meaningfully to the success of the initiative,” he said
The 12 institutions spread across the six geopolitical zones in Nigeria includes: Federal university of technology, Minna, Niger State, African Aviation university, Abuja, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi State, Nigeria Army University Biu, Federal university of technology, Babura, Jigawa State, Shehu Shagari University of Education, Sokoto State, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Imo State, Enugu State University of Medical and Applied Sciences, Enugu State, Federal University of Technology, Ikot Abasi, Akwa Ibom State, Delta State University, Abraka, Delta State, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, University of Ilesha, Osun State