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 aimed at strengthening engineering and technology education across Nigeria.

 

Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman Alausa, disclosed that the intervention 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 a newly inaugurated monitoring committee would ensure strict oversight, transparency and accountability in the execution of the project.

 

According to him, the committee’s mandate includes supervising rehabilitation works, ensuring compliance with approved standards, monitoring fund utilisation, maintaining digital project records and submitting periodic implementation reports. The panel is also empowered to recommend sanctions against non-compliant institutions.

 

Beneficiary institutions include Federal Universities of Technology across the six geopolitical zones, as well as selected conventional universities such as Nigerian Army University, African Aviation and Aerospace University, Enugu State University of Medical and Applied Sciences, and Delta State University, among others.

 

The minister clarified that the N48 billion intervention is separate from other allocations by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) for 2026, which earmark an additional N20 billion for upgrading engineering workshops in other universities nationwide.

 

Highlighting what he described as improved stability in Nigeria’s tertiary education system under the current administration, Alausa noted that universities have recorded nearly three years of uninterrupted academic activities, addressing issues that previously led to frequent strikes and disruptions of academic calendars.

 

He described the N48 billion intervention as a strategic national investment designed to produce competent engineers, innovators and industrial leaders capable of competing globally, restore confidence in engineering education and position Nigeria as a regional hub for technological excellence.

 

Also speaking, the Executive Secretary of TETFund, Sonny Echono, commended the initiative and acknowledged the roles 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.

 

Echono expressed confidence that the committee would effectively identify priority areas, monitor implementation and ensure the prudent utilisation of the allocated funds.