The Federal Government has given approval for the release of N48 billion for the enhancement of 12 Faculties of Engineering and Technology in Federal Universities of Technology and other conventional institutions.
The beneficiary institutions, drawn from the six geopolitical zones of the country, are made up of federal and state-owned universities.
Inaugurating the Ministerial Monitoring, Evaluation and Implementation Committee on TETFund High Impact Intervention Projects in Abuja yesterday, Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, stated that the initiative was to ensure transparency, accountability and strict adherence to project timelines in the execution of the interventions.
The 12 beneficiary tertiary institutions include: Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger State; African Aviation University, Abuja; Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi State; Nigeria Army University Biu, Borno State; Federal University of Technology, Babura, Jigawa State; Shehu Shagari University of Education, Sokoto State and Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Imo State.
Others are 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 llesha, Osun State.
Speaking at the event, Alausa explained that the project, being executed in partnership with the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), aims to transform universities into hubs of practical training, applied research, innovation, and solution-driven learning, moving them away from a predominantly theory-based approach.
The committee is headed by the President of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Ali Rabiu, among other scholars.
Alausa decried the disconnect between classroom theory and practical skills among engineering and technology graduates, noting that this shortfall reduces their employability, undermines industry confidence, and hampers Nigeria’s ability to compete effectively in the global technology arena.