The Federal Government has approved the allocation of N48 billion for the rehabilitation of engineering infrastructure and the provision of modern equipment in 12 federal and state universities, in a move to strengthen engineering and technology education across Nigeria.
The announcement was made by Olatunji Alausa, Minister of Education, 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 selected conventional universities.
Under the project, each beneficiary institution will receive N4 billion to either rehabilitate existing engineering and technology workshops or construct new facilities where none exist, alongside the installation of state-of-the-art equipment.
Alausa explained that the initiative is designed to bridge the longstanding gap between theoretical knowledge and practical competence among engineering graduates, which has historically limited employability and weakened industry confidence.
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“This intervention is part of the broader reform agenda of the Federal Ministry of Education, implemented in close collaboration with the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), to ensure that our universities are not only centres of theoretical learning, but also hubs of hands-on training, applied research, innovation, and problem-solving.
“Today, each of these universities will get 4 billion naira each to rehabilitate their existing engineering and technology workshop or to build new engineering and technology workshop where they don’t have one,” the minister said.
He said 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.
Alausa stressed that the newly inaugurated committee will ensure strict monitoring, transparency, and accountability in the execution of the project.
Its mandate includes overseeing rehabilitation works, ensuring compliance with approved standards, monitoring the utilisation of funds, maintaining digital project records, and submitting periodic implementation reports.
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The committee is also empowered to recommend sanctions against non-compliant universities.
Beneficiary institutions include Federal Universities of Technology across the six geopolitical zones, as well as selected conventional universities such as Nigerian Army University, Biu; African Aviation and Aerospace University, Abuja; Enugu State University of Medical and Applied Sciences; and Delta State University, Abraka, among others.
The minister clarified that this intervention is separate from other TETFund allocations for 2026, which earmark an additional N20 billion for upgrading engineering workshops in other universities nationwide.
Highlighting the stability of Nigeria’s tertiary education system under the current administration, Alausa said that universities have enjoyed nearly three years of uninterrupted academic activities, addressing issues that previously caused strikes and disrupted academic calendars.
He described the N48 billion intervention as a strategic national investment aimed at producing competent engineers, innovators, and industrial leaders capable of competing globally, restoring confidence in engineering education, and positioning Nigeria as a regional hub for technological excellence.
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Also speaking, Sonny Echono, Executive Secretary of TETFund, commended the initiative and acknowledged the role of the President and the National Assembly in mandating deliberate efforts to restore Nigerian universities to global competitiveness.
“I have no doubt that this committee made up of eminent Nigerians, professionals and technocrats in their own rights will help us in identifying the needs, specify what needs to be done, monitoring the process of implementing these programs and ensuring that the funds allocated for this purpose are prudently and judiciously utilised,” he said
He expressed confidence that the committee, made up of seasoned professionals and technocrats, would help identify needs, specify priorities, monitor implementation and ensure prudent utilisation of allocated funds.
