FG approves ₦48 billion to transform 12 faculties into innovation hubs
FG approves ₦48 billion to transform 12 faculties into innovation hubs
The initiative, executed in partnership with the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), targets selected institutions across the six geopolitical zones to ensure they become centers for applied research and solution-driven learning.
The Federal Government has announced a massive ₦48 billion intervention fund aimed at overhauling 12 Faculties of Engineering and Technology across Nigerian universities.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, who inaugurated the Ministerial Monitoring, Evaluation and Implementation Committee in Abuja on Monday, March 2, 2026, stated that the move is designed to bridge the widening gap between classroom theory and industrial practice.
The initiative, executed in partnership with the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), targets selected institutions across the six geopolitical zones to ensure they become centers for applied research and solution-driven learning.
To ensure the judicious use of the funds, the Minister inaugurated a specialized committee headed by the President of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Engr. Ali Rabiu.
The committee’s mandate includes strict monitoring of project timelines and ensuring that the interventions translate into tangible laboratory and workshop upgrades.
Dr. Alausa decried the current state of engineering education, noting that the disconnect between graduates’ skills and industry needs has significantly hampered Nigeria’s global competitiveness.
“This shortfall reduces employability and undermines industry confidence,” the Minister remarked, stressing that the new funding will pivot universities toward practical training.
The selection includes a mix of specialized Federal Universities of Technology (FUTs), conventional federal universities, and state-owned institutions:
North Central: Federal University of Technology (FUT), Minna, African Aviation University, Abuja
North East: Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi, Nigerian Army University, Biu
North West: FUT Babura, Jigawa, Shehu Shagari University of Education, Sokoto
South East: FUT Owerri (FUTO), Enugu State University of Medical and Applied Sciences
South South: FUT Ikot Abasi, Akwa Ibom, Delta State University (DELSU), Abraka
South West: FUT Akure (FUTA), University of Ilesha, Osun State
The ₦4 billion allocated to each of the 12 institutions is expected to be utilized for the procurement of modern engineering equipment, the establishment of fabrication labs (FabLabs), and the upgrade of workshops.
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The Executive Secretary of TETFund, Sonny Echono, expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for approving the reforms aimed at transforming Nigeria’s education landscape.
Echono described the ceremony as one of several initiatives endorsed by the President to reposition tertiary institutions and strengthen teaching and learning infrastructure.
He also commended the National Assembly for its efforts to restore first- and second-generation universities to global standards.
Dr. Alausa emphasized that the government wants to see graduates who can create home-grown technological solutions rather than just “circulating CVs.”
The inclusion of newly established institutions like FUT Ikot Abasi and specialized schools like the Nigerian Army University Biu underscores the government’s intent to standardize engineering excellence across different institutional mandates.
By involving the Nigerian Society of Engineers in the monitoring process, the government hopes to align academic curricula with the current professional standards required in the field.
