By Favour Chioma
Abuja, January 20, 2026 The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to transforming Nigeria’s tertiary education sector by inviting eligible private tertiary institutions to participate in the Tertiary Education Research and Application Service (TERAS), a national digital platform aimed at enhancing teaching, learning, research, innovation and institutional efficiency.
The Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa, made the call as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s education ecosystem through strategic public–private collaboration.
This was contained in a statement signed by Boriowo Folasade Director, Press and Public Relations Federal Ministry of Education (FME)
According to the statement, Dr. Alausa emphasised that sustainable progress in the education sector requires shared responsibility and inclusive partnerships between government and private sector stakeholders.
He explained that the expansion of TERAS implemented in collaboration with the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) represents a major milestone in Nigeria’s digital education reform agenda. While the platform has traditionally served public universities, polytechnics and colleges of education, eligible private institutions are now invited to formally partner with TETFund and access the same premium digital services deployed at national scale.
According to the Minister, TERAS provides a unified digital infrastructure offering structured onboarding, reliable connectivity services, cost efficiency, standardised quality assurance mechanisms and data-driven decision-making tools. These features, he noted, are critical to improving institutional performance and ensuring that Nigerian tertiary institutions remain competitive both locally and globally.
Dr. Alausa said the inclusion of private tertiary institutions aligns with the Federal Government’s broader vision of building a unified, inclusive and resilient higher education ecosystem in line with global best practices. He added that collective engagement through TERAS would strengthen collaboration, enhance bargaining power and accelerate the development of a shared digital future for tertiary education in Nigeria.
He therefore urged interested private universities, polytechnics and colleges of education to formally express their interest and engage with TETFund through the Committee of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities, stressing that inclusivity and collaboration remain central to sustainable educational advancement.
The Ministry of Education reaffirmed that the initiative is in line with the education agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, which prioritises access to quality and inclusive education while positioning Nigeria’s tertiary institutions for global relevance in learning, research and innovation in support of national development.
