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By Gabriel Ameh
The Federal Government has inaugurated a Ministerial Monitoring, Evaluation and Implementation Committee to oversee the implementation of the TETFund Special High Impact Intervention Project for Engineering and Technology Faculties in Federal Universities of Technology and selected conventional universities.
The Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, performed the inauguration, describing the initiative as a strategic national investment aimed at repositioning engineering and technology education as a driver of industrialisation, innovation, and sustainable economic development.
According to the Minister, the intervention aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which prioritises skills development, youth empowerment, industrial productivity and economic diversification through education and technology.
Addressing the Skills Gap
Dr. Alausa noted that concerns have long persisted over the disconnect between theoretical knowledge and practical competence among engineering and technology graduates.
He stated that the new intervention, implemented in collaboration with the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), is designed to close this gap through the rehabilitation of existing workshops, provision of advanced laboratories, and installation of cutting-edge equipment.
The goal, he explained, is to produce graduates capable of designing, fabricating, testing, innovating and industrialising solutions in line with global standards.
Committee’s Mandate
The Committee’s Terms of Reference include:
Monitoring rehabilitation of existing Engineering and Technology workshops across beneficiary institutions;
Ensuring proper equipping of facilities in line with approved standards;
Recommending design and construction of new workshops where necessary;
Monitoring compliance and utilisation of funds in accordance with public procurement laws;
Maintaining comprehensive digital records of projects;
Submitting bi-monthly implementation reports to the Minister of Education, Minister of State for Education, and Executive Secretary of TETFund;
Ensuring accountability, value for money, and measurable outcomes;
Recommending sanctions for non-compliant universities.
The Minister stressed that the Committee is not ceremonial but results-driven, with clear expectations for transparency, diligence and professionalism.
Institutions Covered Under the 2026 Special High-Impact Project
The intervention spans all geopolitical zones, covering institutions including:
University of Abuja
Federal University of Technology, Minna
African Aviation University
Modibbo Adama University
Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU)
Nigerian Army University Biu
Federal University Birnin Kebbi
Federal University of Technology, Owerri
Enugu State University of Medical and Applied Sciences
Rivers State University
Federal University of Technology, Ikot Abasi
Delta State University, Abraka
Obafemi Awolowo University
Federal University of Technology, Akure
University of Ilesa
Abia State University
Broad-Based Technical Representation
The Committee comprises representatives from regulatory bodies, professional associations, and technical institutions including:
Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE)
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)
According to the Minister, the multidisciplinary structure underscores the Federal Government’s recognition that quality engineering education requires collaboration among academia, regulators, industry and professional bodies.
A Strategic National Investment
Dr. Alausa emphasised that the success of the intervention will not be measured merely by buildings or equipment, but by functional workshops, competent graduates, and demonstrable improvements in practical skills acquisition.
He urged committee members to work closely with university managements and TETFund officials to ensure timely delivery, strict compliance with specifications and long-term sustainability.
The Minister expressed confidence that the initiative will restore confidence in Nigeria’s engineering education system and position the country as a regional hub for technical excellence and innovation.
He formally declared the Committee inaugurated and wished members success in their national assignment.
