FG injects N48bn for infrastructure, equipment upgrade in 12 varsities

… inaugurates project implementation committee

The Federal Government has approved the injection of N48 billion for the rehabilitation of engineering infrastructure and provision of modern equipment in 12 federal and state universities across the country as part of efforts to strengthen engineering and technology education.

The project is coming under the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) special high-impact project for the 2026 intervention cycle.

Minister of Education, Dr Olatunji Alausa, made this known on Monday in Abuja during the inauguration of the Ministerial Monitoring, Evaluation and Implementation Committee for the TETFund Special High Impact Intervention Project for Engineering and Technology Faculties in Federal Universities of Technology (FUTs) and select conventional universities.

Alausa explained that each beneficiary institution would receive N4 billion to rehabilitate existing engineering and technology workshops or construct new ones where such facilities do not exist, alongside the installation of state-of-the-art equipment.

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According to him, the intervention is aimed at repositioning engineering and technology education to drive Nigeria’s industrialisation, innovation and sustainable economic growth.

He noted that the initiative forms part of broader reforms being implemented by the Federal Ministry of Education in collaboration with the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) to transform universities into centres of practical learning, applied research and innovation.

The minister said the government was determined to bridge the long-standing gap between theoretical knowledge and practical competence among engineering graduates, which he said had affected employability and weakened industry confidence.

“This intervention has been deliberately designed to provide modern workshops, advanced laboratories and industry-relevant training environments capable of producing graduates who can design, fabricate, test and industrialise solutions,” he said.

Alausa added that the project aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which prioritises skills development, youth empowerment and economic diversification through education and technology.

The minister emphasised that the newly inaugurated committee was not ceremonial but established to ensure strict monitoring, transparency and accountability in project execution.

He said the committee would oversee rehabilitation works, ensure compliance with approved standards, monitor utilisation of funds in line with procurement laws, maintain digital project records and submit periodic implementation reports to the ministry and TETFund.

The committee is also empowered to recommend sanctions against non-compliant universities and ensure value for money across all intervention sites.

Alausa listed beneficiary institutions to include Federal Universities of Technology located across the six geopolitical zones, as well as select conventional universities such as the Nigerian Army University, Biu; African Aviation and Aerospace University, Abuja; Enugu State University of Medical and Applied Sciences; Delta State University, Abraka, among others.

He clarified that the intervention is separate from other allocations under TETFund’s 2026 spending guidelines, which earmark an additional N20 billion for upgrading engineering workshops in other universities nationwide.

The minister also stated that Nigeria’s tertiary education system has witnessed unprecedented stability under the current administration, noting that universities have enjoyed nearly three years of uninterrupted academic activities.

According to him, longstanding issues responsible for strikes in tertiary institutions have been addressed, ensuring academic calendars remain stable.

Alausa described the intervention as a strategic national investment aimed at producing competent engineers, innovators and industrial leaders capable of competing globally.

He expressed confidence that effective implementation of the project would restore confidence in engineering education and position Nigeria as a regional hub for technological excellence.

In her remarks, Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Said Ahmad, described the project as a strategic step toward strengthening Nigeria’s capacity in science, engineering and technology education.

She stressed that funding alone could not guarantee success, noting that effective monitoring and accountability were critical to achieving measurable outcomes.

Executive Secretary of TETFund, Arc. Sonny Echono commended the Federal Government and the National Assembly for supporting reforms aimed at restoring Nigerian universities to global competitiveness.

Also speaking, Special Adviser to the President on Student Engagement, Sunday Asefon, said the intervention would significantly close the gap between theoretical learning and practical engineering skills among Nigerian students.