Nigeria to End ‘Research Tourism’ as TETFund Set to Equip Six Multi-Purpose Zonal Labs
Nigeria to End ‘Research Tourism’ as TETFund Set to Equip Six Multi-Purpose Zonal Labs
Nigeria is poised to end its long-standing dependence on foreign facilities for scientific research as the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) moves to equip six high-tech Multi-Purpose Zonal Laboratories across the country’s geopolitical zones.
The initiative, described as a “strategic national asset,” aims to halt the trend of researchers taking samples to countries like the United Kingdom, South Africa, and Ghana for analysis due to a lack of sophisticated instrumentation at home.
On Monday, an advisory committee led by Chris Maiyaki, the former acting Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), submitted a comprehensive report to TETFund Executive Secretary, Arc. Sonny Echono.
The seven-member committee was inaugurated in February 2026 to guide the procurement, deployment, and operational sustainability of these facilities.
“These are not mere laboratories; they are Nigeria’s answer to a long-standing deficit in scientific infrastructure,” Maiyaki stated during the presentation in Abuja.
“This deficit has for too long compelled our researchers to rely on foreign facilities for their benchwork, limiting our capacity to translate findings into national development.”
The laboratories are currently in various stages of construction across six host institutions:
Bayero University Kano (BUK): The most advanced site, with the overall complex approximately 80% complete.
* **University of Lagos (UNILAG)**
* **Yakubu Gowon University, Abuja**
* **University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT)**
* **University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus (UNEC):** Currently at 3% completion.
* **University of Nigeria, Maiduguri (UNIMAID):** Currently at 2% completion.
Arc. Sonny Echono emphasized the importance of synchronizing the equipment procurement with building readiness.
“We thought it wise rather than wait to commission empty buildings, it will be good to synchronize the equipment phase,” Echono said.
He confirmed that procurement will begin immediately with Bayero University Kano, which is expected to be ready by August 2026.
The committee curated a multidisciplinary equipment list covering:
*Life Sciences & Physical Sciences
*Engineering & Workshop Equipment
*Computer & ICT Infrastructure
Specialized Cell Culture and High-Performance Computing systems.
Beyond hardware, the report proposes a “linear management structure” to ensure the labs operate with international accreditation standards.
Echono noted that the governance model would allow these labs to operate with a degree of autonomy, encouraging partnerships with the organized private sector and industrial hubs to ensure long-term financial sustainability.
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Restoring National Pride
Reflecting on the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic—where Nigeria faced delays of up to a week for test results due to facility shortages—Echono described the project as a matter of national pride.
“This will wipe away our sense of shame,” Echono remarked. “The dream of having such facilities dates back over 15 years. There is nothing like an idea whose time has come.”
The Executive Secretary also revealed that the committee’s work isn’t finished; members will be involved in “needs assessments” and “pre-shipment inspections” to ensure that the equipment supplied matches the high-tech specifications required to make Nigerian institutions globally competitive under the current administration’s vision for industrial transformation.
The Six Host Institutions:
1. **North West:** Bayero University Kano
2. **North East:** University of Maiduguri
3. **North Central:** Yakubu Gowon University, Abuja
4. **South West:** University of Lagos
5. **South East:** University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus
6. **South South:** University of Port Harcourt
