From Fred Ezeh, Abuja
Federal Government has provided N48 billion to six selected Federal Universities of Technology (FUTs) across the six geopolitical zones and six other conventional universities to enable them build or upgrade their engineering and technology faculties.
The benefitting institutions are Federal University of Technology, Minna; Federal University of Technology, Owerri; Federal University of Technology, Babura; Federal University of Technology, Ikot-Abasi and Federal University of Technology, Akure.
The conventional universities are Nigeria Army University, Biu; African Aviation University, Abuja; Shehu Shagari University of Education; Enugu State University of Medical and Applied Sciences; Delta State University, Abraka and the University of Ilesa.
Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, disclosed this in Abuja, yesterday, at the inauguration of the Ministerial Monitoring, Evaluation and Implementation Committee on the TETFund Special High Impact Intervention Project for engineering and technology faculties in the federal universities of technology and conventional universities.
He disclosed that each of the universities would get N4 billion to execute the task ahead. “For far too long, concerns have been raised about the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical competence among engineering and technology graduates. This gap has limited graduate employability, weakened industry confidence and constrained Nigeria’s ability to compete in a fast-evolving global technology landscape.
“This TETFund Special High Impact Intervention Project has, therefore, been deliberately designed to address these gaps through 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.”
The Minister stated that the Committee chaired by the President of Nigeria Society of Engineers (NSE), Ali Rabiu, had been provided with the terms of reference and are expected to assist the government in ensuring that things are done very well in the benefitting institutions.
“Let me be very clear: this Committee carries the full confidence of the Federal Ministry of Education, but it also bears a heavy responsibility. You are expected to uphold the highest standards of professionalism, transparency, diligence and patriotism.
“The success or failure of this intervention will be measured not by buildings and equipment alone, but by functional workshops, competent graduates and demonstrable improvements in practical skills acquisition,” he said.
The Minister asked the committee to work closely with university managements, TETFund officials and relevant stakeholders to ensure timely delivery, strict compliance with specifications and sustainability of facilities.
“Let me further reiterate that this intervention is a strategic national investment in Nigeria’s future engineers, technologists, innovators and industrial leaders. I am confident that with your commitment and integrity, this programme will significantly strengthen our universities, restore confidence in engineering and technology education and position Nigeria as a regional hub for technical excellence and innovation,” he said.
Chairman of the Committee, in his response, appreciated the composition of the Committee, which he said, brought together notable regulatory bodies, professional associations, technical experts and university representatives, including the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria (CPN), National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (NACIR), Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) and representatives of the universities themselves.
He said the multidisciplinary composition of the Committee reflects the understanding that quality engineering education requires collaboration between academia, regulators, industry and professional bodies.
He assured that the Committee would work assiduously to justify the trust and confidence of the government in them.
