Kuni Tyessi in Abuja
The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) funds has risen sharply from N320.3 billion in 2023 to N1.6 trillion in 2025, reflecting elevated federal authorities funding in tertiary training.
Chairman of TETFund Board of Trustees, Aminu Bello Masari, disclosed this on the 2026 National Town Hall Meeting of the Fund held in Abuja yesterday.
Masari stated the determine rose from N320.3 billion in 2023 to N683.4 billion in 2024 earlier than hitting N1.6 trillion in 2025, about 5 occasions the 2023 allocation, demonstrating President Bola Tinubu’s dedication to human capital growth.
He nevertheless harassed that the elevated funding should translate to tangible leads to tutorial efficiency, analysis output and graduate employability.
Masari disclosed that 271 establishments are lined underneath the 2026 annual direct intervention, with about N2.526 billion for every college, N1.871 billion for every polytechnic and N2.057 billion for every school of training.
He stated the Fund dedicated N10 billion in 2026 to expertise acquisition centres in polytechnics, supported innovation and entrepreneurship services in 12 universities, and permitted N48 billion for upgrading engineering and expertise services.
He added that about N6.09 billion was permitted for 174 profitable analysis proposals underneath the 2025 National Research Fund grant cycle, whereas presidential approval has been secured for six further Centres of Excellence in robotics, coding, Artificial Intelligence, machine studying and cybersecurity, bringing the full to 36 centres.
Masari urged beneficiary establishments to make sure transparency, prudent administration and correct upkeep of services, warning that funding alone can not repair all challenges.
Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, stated authorities is pushing curriculum reforms to provide graduates with sensible, industry-relevant expertise, commending TETFund for supporting infrastructure, analysis and specialised gear.
Alausa stated reforms embody a proposed 80 % sensible and 20 % theoretical curriculum mannequin, with 36 new and reviewed National Diplomas, 10 further ND programmes, 30 National Certificates in Education and 21 National Occupational Standards already produced 27 new and 4 reviewed.
He stated programmes will proceed to be aligned with labour market calls for, and that initiatives like NELFUND will broaden entry in order that monetary hardship, incapacity or location doesn’t block certified Nigerians from finishing training.
Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, described training as important to human capital growth and nationwide productiveness, calling for efficient monitoring and clear reporting to make sure investments ship influence.
Executive Secretary of TETFund, Sonny Echono, disclosed that over 418 initiatives are prepared for commissioning throughout beneficiary establishments, with 14 initiatives at one establishment alone.
He stated the Fund is increasing investments in infrastructure, analysis, scholar welfare, innovation and digital studying, supporting scholar innovation from thought growth to mental property safety and {industry} linkage.
Echono added that scholar transportation initiatives cowl 42 establishments, with about 98 faculties supplied electric-powered automobiles for inexpensive scholar transport, whereas the Fund is working with the Ministry of Labour to align expertise growth with manpower wants.
