TETFund Plans Agencies Partnership to Enhance AI Studies

The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has announced plans to collaborate with relevant agencies to enhance Artificial Intelligence (AI) studies in Nigeria’s tertiary institutions.

TETFund’s Executive Secretary, Mr. Sonny Echono, made this known during an interview on Friday in Abuja.

He highlighted the Fund’s ongoing efforts, including the scaling up of textbook production and the establishment of ICT centres, aimed at positioning Nigeria as a leader in AI within Africa.

The Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa Unveiling Fifty (50) TETFund Sponsored-Books at the Funds’ Headquarter in Abuja.#tetfund #bookpromotion #education #viralpost2025シ pic.twitter.com/xFujZtPc0O

— TETFund (@TETFundNg) March 27, 2025

“This initiative is part of TETFund’s contribution to Nigeria’s drive to tap into the multi-trillion-dollar global digital economy,” Echono stated.

AI Training and Book Development

According to Echono, AI is one of the few subject areas where TETFund sponsors scholars for international training, as the field is still developing in Nigeria.

“We no longer send scholars abroad for most programmes, but AI is an exception. It is a new and expanding field, and we want Nigeria to take the lead in Africa,” he said.

He further revealed that TETFund had supported the development of AI-focused textbooks, covering topics such as AI in education, ethics, and curriculum development.

The goal, he said, is to integrate AI into Nigeria’s tertiary education system and encourage institutions to adopt AI-driven teaching and learning methods.

Read Also: TETfund Unveils 50 Books Written by Nigerian Scholars

ICT Training for Educators

Echono noted that in the last two years, TETFund, in collaboration with leading institutions, had trained over 3,000 scholars in AI and emerging ICT trends.

Additionally, more than 17,000 educators have received ICT training through the International Computer Driving License (ICDL) programme.

“We began with general ICT training because a teacher who isn’t ICT-savvy will struggle to use digital platforms for lectures, assessments, and student engagement.

“Now, we are helping them understand how to leverage ICT to improve teaching quality and enhance student learning experiences,” he explained.

He also disclosed that TETFund is expanding its focus on robotics, aiming to leapfrog other African nations in ICT and emerging technologies.

“We may be latecomers in robotics, but we don’t want any country on this continent to be ahead of us. So, we are pushing the frontiers,” Echono added.

Read Also: TETFund Not Prioritising Infrastructure Over Research – Executive Secretary 

Revamping Nigeria’s Book Development Programme

Echono also spoke on efforts to revive TETFund’s book development programme, which had published only 20 books in 13 years before his tenure.

“When I assumed office in 2022, I challenged the book development committee to increase production. I told them to publish at least 50 books in the first year, or the committee would be disbanded,” he stated.

The challenge paid off, as TETFund published 50 books in 2023, followed by another 60 books shortly after, and recently an additional 50 textbooks.

Another batch of 50 textbooks is currently in production, further strengthening the academic resources available to Nigerian tertiary institutions.

 

 

 

NAN