N48b for 12 varsities’ engineering faculties’ upgrade
The Federal Government has allocated N48 billion to upgrade engineering workshops in 12 selected universities across the six geopolitical zones. The fund is part of a special high-impact intervention project
The Federal Government has allocated N48 billion to upgrade engineering workshops in 12 selected universities across the six geopolitical zones.
The fund is part of a special high-impact intervention project aimed at repositioning engineering and technology education.
Each of the 12 universities will get N4 billion for the upgrade.
The beneficiaries include: Federal University of Technology (FUT), Minna, Niger State; African Aviation University, Abuja; Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi State; Nigeria Army University, Biu; Federal University of Technology, Babura, Jigawa State; and Shehu Shagari University of Education, Sokoto State.
Others are: Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), Imo State; Enugu State University of Medical and Applied Sciences, Enugu State; Federal University of Technology, Ikot Abasi, Akwa Ibom State; Delta State University, Abraka, Delta State; Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State and University of Ilesha, Osun State.
The project, which will be implemented in collaboration with the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), seeks to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical competence among engineering and technology graduates. This would enhance their employability and Nigeria’s competitiveness in the global technology landscape.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, announced this at the inauguration of a Ministerial Monitoring, Evaluation and Implementation Committee for a special high-impact intervention project yesterday in Abuja.
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The committee, headed by the President of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Ali Rabiu, is to monitor the rehabilitation and equipping of engineering and technology workshops, ensure compliance with approved standards, and recommend new workshop construction, where necessary.
Alausa explained that the intervention would provide modern workshops, advanced laboratories, cutting-edge equipment, and industry-relevant training environments capable of producing graduates who can design, fabricate, test, innovate, and industrialise solutions.
He said: “For too long, concerns have been raised about the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical competence among engineering and technology graduates.
“These gaps have limited graduate employability, weakened industrial confidence, and constrained Nigeria’s ability to compete in a fast-evolving global technology landscape.
“This TETFund Special Impact Intervention Project has, therefore, been deliberately designed to address these gaps through modern workshops, advanced laboratories, cutting-edge equipment, and industrial-relevant training environments capable of producing graduates who can design, fabricate, test, innovate, and industrialise solutions.”
The minister said more institutions would be added as the year progressed, while others were benefiting from separate medical and science-based interventions.
The committee will also maintain digital project records, submit periodic reports, and recommend sanctions for non-compliance.
Also, the Minister of State for Education, Suwaiba Said Ahmad, said the intervention was strategic to Nigeria’s aspirations for industrialisation, innovation, and sustainable economic growth.
She said funding alone was not enough to guarantee impact, adding that effective implementation, strict adherence to standards, transparency and accountability were critical.
TETFund’s Executive Secretary Sonny Echono applauded the initiative and acknowledged the role of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the National Assembly to position Nigerian universities for global competitiveness.
He said: “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.”
The TETFund’s boss expressed confidence that the committee, which comprises seasoned professionals and technocrats, would help to identify needs, specify priorities, monitor implementation, and ensure prudent utilisation of allocated funds.
