As part of its commitment to digital education, the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, TETFund, says it will establish 72 ICT centres in universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education across the country.
The Executive Secretary of TETFund, Sonny Echono, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja.
Mr Echono said that six specialised centres began operations in February, explaining that the additional 72 centres would be inaugurated in 2025.
He said these hubs would provide students with hands-on training in artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, robotics, and software development.
“As we speak right now, the ones we have, six are starting immediately. They just started work in February. But every institution is supposed to have these centres.
“But we have this one, a specialised one. We are doing this on a bigger scale. We have been funding our research intervention.
“Many of them own CBT centres, we are able to see people go and do exam for JAMB (Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board).
“We are introducing initiatives where even students when they are in school, we call it learn to earn, they can even begin to do outsourcing jobs after going through some proper kind of training online and they can get certificate.
“This is because these days, nobody is looking at your BSc, your PhD, they want your proficiency.
“They are interested in what you can do? What talents do you have? Can you code? These are the things they are interested in,’’ he told NAN.
According to him, TETFund wants to give them that available alternative right on their campuses.
Mr Echono said the initiative would equip students with practical knowledge in emerging technologies and vocational fields and ensure that they werre prepared for the rapidly evolving global job market.
He said TETFund was investing heavily in infrastructure and training programmes for skilled professionals.
He, he said, was in recognition of the vital role of Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in national development.
According to him, these programmes focus on training electricians, welders, fabricators, and solar panel technicians, addressing the country’s demand for competent artisans and technologists.
Prioritising TVET, he said would bridge the skills gap and empower more Nigerians with the technical expertise needed for industrial and economic growth.
On plans to fund private institutions in its research scheme, Echono urged the public to disregard the notion that private universities do not benefit from its research grant.
According to him, TETFund research opportunities are open to all tertiary institutions nationwide because knowledge is universal.
“Even if you are a non-Nigerian and you are in this country and you want to develop a solution to solve our problem, we are going to partner with you.
“So our private universities, all their academic staff are free to participate because we advertise it and we ask people to bring in proposals, entries.
“We don’t look at the colour of your school or the location, it’s strictly a merit-based thing.
“And we also encourage them to partner with our institutions for what we call multidisciplinary research.
“What they are not getting, but that other universities are getting, is what we call institutional-based research. That is the money we give you.
“You use it to conduct basic research in your institution. Your students, your lecturers are doing one form of research or the other in the institution, the National Research Fund is open to that,” he explained.
Additionally, he said due to the suspension of foreign scholarships, private universities scholars are eligible for research grants.
He said this inclusion ensures that private-sector researchers contribute to the advancement of knowledge and innovation in Nigeria.
NAN
