By Gabriel Ameh
The Federal Government has warned against profit-driven private sector partnerships in public tertiary institutions, insisting that students’ welfare, affordability and improved learning conditions must remain central to every education investment.
The Federal Ministry of Education said the success of Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) in the education sector should be measured by their social impact rather than the profits generated by investors.
The Director Overseeing the Office of the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dr Folake David, stated this at the opening of a two-day annual PPP Forum for Desk Officers in Federal Tertiary Institutions in Abuja.
The forum, held from November 4 to 5, 2026, at the Public Service Institute of Nigeria, was organised in collaboration with the Nigerian Institute of Infrastructure and Public-Private Partnership (NIIP).
It was themed, “Public-Private Partnership: Bridging the Gap Between Policy, Investment and Sustainable Implementation.”
David explained that although the Federal Government had established policy frameworks and attracted private sector investment interest, the major challenge remained converting these opportunities into viable and sustainable projects.
She noted that limited public resources and competing national priorities had made it difficult for government alone to provide essential infrastructure such as laboratories, student hostels, workshops, theatres and high-capacity learning centres.
She therefore called for stronger private sector participation to mobilise funding, technical expertise, innovation and management capacity to support government investment in tertiary education.
However, she cautioned that projects that students cannot afford should not be regarded as successful, urging PPP Desk Officers to place public interest above commercial gains.
David challenged the officers to move beyond administrative responsibilities and become investment facilitators capable of identifying viable projects, preparing bankable proposals and attracting credible investors.
She said the expectation was for the forum to produce a pipeline of sustainable projects that directly address the needs of educational institutions rather than end with a communiqué.
Speaking on behalf of the Director-General of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), Dr Jobson Oseodion Ewalefoh, Mr Akwu Okolo disclosed that the Commission had improved its PPP project review and certification processes.
According to him, procedures that previously took approximately 60 days could now be completed within seven days.
He also disclosed that the Commission had issued 13 PPP guidelines to support the implementation of presidentially approved project approval thresholds.
Okolo encouraged participants to identify investment opportunities specific to tertiary education and develop credible project proposals.
He noted that although social infrastructure might not always generate sufficient financial returns, it remained essential to fulfilling government’s responsibility to citizens.
Earlier, the Director of Special Duties at the Federal Ministry of Education, Mr Murtala Alhaji Tanko, described the forum as an important platform for strengthening institutional capacity and translating government policies into practical investment opportunities.
He identified inadequate infrastructure, overcrowded classrooms, insufficient teaching facilities and limited access to modern technology as persistent challenges facing tertiary institutions.
Tanko urged participants to develop practical recommendations with clear responsibilities and implementation strategies, stressing the importance of regulatory compliance, stakeholder engagement and effective project monitoring.
In a goodwill message, the Deputy Director in the Colleges of Education Department, Mrs Vivian Oluwatobi Luke, highlighted opportunities for private sector investment in lecture halls, hostels, laboratories, workshops, ICT facilities and renewable energy infrastructure.
She called for transparency, accountability and proper monitoring to ensure that PPP arrangements deliver sustainable improvements in teaching and learning.
Similarly, the Director of Polytechnic Education and Allied Institutions Department, Mrs Igwe Amy, stressed the importance of private sector collaboration in strengthening Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).
She said stronger industry partnerships and private sector participation were necessary to improve technical education and equip students with relevant skills.
Reaffirming the Ministry’s commitment, David said the Federal Government would continue to promote transparent, accountable and value-driven partnerships under the leadership of the Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, and Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmad.
She added that the initiative would complement ongoing education reforms and support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
