The Chairman, Board of Trustees of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Alhaji Aminu Bello Masari, says the Fund is pursuing sweeping reforms to transform Nigeria’s tertiary education system into a global model of innovation, productivity, and national development, in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Speaking at the maiden TETFund National Town Hall Meeting 2025 in Abuja, Masari described the event as a historic milestone designed to strengthen transparency, inclusion, and stakeholder engagement in the tertiary education sector.
He commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for his visionary leadership, which he said has inspired TETFund’s reform-driven agenda anchored on three key pillars:
Transforming tertiary education into a driver of innovation and productivity;
Strengthening accountability, transparency, and impact measurement; and
Expanding the frontiers of research, technology, and entrepreneurship.
Masari also appreciated the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, and the Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Said Ahmad, for their steadfast support and guidance to the Board and Management of the Fund, as well as the National Assembly Committees on TETFund for their continued oversight and collaboration.
Human Capital Development and Research Expansion
Masari revealed that under President Tinubu’s leadership, TETFund has sponsored 3,332 Master’s and 4,796 PhD candidates under the local component of the TETFund Scholarship for Academic Staff, while continuing to support research, teaching practice, and conference attendance.
To deepen research and innovation, the Fund has established Multi-Purpose Zonal Research Laboratories and Centres of Excellence in 48 tertiary institutions nationwide. The centres focus on strategic areas such as biotechnology, renewable energy, food security, governance, and health sciences, serving as regional hubs for cutting-edge research and innovation.
He highlighted some of the centres to include the Centre for Arid Zone Research and Development at the University of Maiduguri; Centre for Dairy Research and Development at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi; Centre for Public Governance and Leadership at the University of Abuja; Centre for Renewable Energy at Bayero University, Kano; and the Centre for Root Crop Research and Development at Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike.
“These facilities are driving innovation and providing solutions to national challenges, positioning Nigeria as a knowledge producer rather than a consumer,” he said.
Medical and Educational Infrastructure
In the health sector, Masari announced that the Fund has implemented a Special High Impact Intervention for 18 medical colleges across the six geopolitical zones, alongside the deployment of medical simulation facilities to eight universities to enhance hands-on medical training.
Beneficiaries include Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria; University of Maiduguri; Federal University of Health Sciences, Azare; University of Ilorin; University of Lagos; Federal University of Health Sciences, Ila-Orangun; Nnamdi Azikiwe University; and University of Benin.
“These facilities provide practical, controlled environments that enable medical students to acquire vital clinical competencies before interacting with real patients,” Masari explained.
He further noted that TETFund has provided Early Grade Resource Centres in six Colleges of Education including the Federal Colleges of Education in Gusau, Oyo, and Umunze to strengthen teaching and learning in the foundational years of education.
Agriculture, Innovation, and Renewable Energy
Masari said TETFund has prioritised the revitalisation of agriculture and food security through the establishment of demonstration and commercial farms in universities of agriculture and related institutions.
“These farms bridge the gap between classroom learning and practical application, empowering students and researchers to develop innovative solutions in crop production, mechanisation, and sustainable farming,” he stated, adding that ten institutions also benefited from commercial farm interventions aimed at boosting food production and promoting youth entrepreneurship.
He disclosed that the Fund has established Innovation Hubs and Entrepreneurship Centres in 15 tertiary institutions nationwide, including the University of Uyo, University of Ibadan, Federal University Dutse, and Taraba State Polytechnic, Jalingo.
“These hubs serve as incubators for ideas, technology transfer, and start-ups, equipping Nigerian students with the creativity and resilience needed to thrive in a global economy,” he said.
To address the persistent challenge of power supply in tertiary institutions, Masari announced that President Tinubu has approved the Mini-Grid Solar Power Project under the 2025 TETFund Intervention Cycle, with an allocation of ₦70 billion.
The project, he noted, will provide renewable and sustainable energy to 12 institutions in the first phase, including Nigerian Army University, Biu; Northwest University, Kano; Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma; Alvan Ikoku University of Education, Owerri; and Lagos State University, among others.
Commitment to Sustainable Progress
Masari reaffirmed that the Board of Trustees remains committed to consolidating the gains of the past while expanding the frontiers of progress.
He outlined the Fund’s next steps to include strengthening transparency and accountability frameworks, expanding investments in renewable energy and digital learning, promoting advanced research in agriculture, health, and technology, and deepening partnerships with industries and international bodies to drive research commercialisation and sustainable impact.
“The progress of tertiary education in Nigeria is a shared responsibility,” Masari said. “Government alone cannot carry the burden — it requires the collective efforts of academia, industry, civil society, and our communities.”
He concluded by describing the National Town Hall Meeting as “a symbol of partnership, transparency, and shared vision”, reaffirming TETFund’s determination to ensure that every intervention delivers measurable and lasting impact on the lives of Nigerians and the future of the nation.
Bello Wakili
