The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has committed N6 billion to establish Information and Communication Technology (ICT) experience centres across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones as part of efforts to equip students with digital skills and prepare them for the technology-driven economy.
The fund disclosed this on Thursday, during the commissioning of the South-East zonal ICT Experience Centre at the Federal Polytechnic, Oko, Anambra State.
The initiative will see N1 billion invested in each geopolitical zone, with selected universities, polytechnics and colleges of education benefiting from the intervention.
Speaking at the ceremony, Chairman of the TETFund Board of Trustees, Aminu Masari, said the intervention was approved to bridge the gap between Nigeria’s tertiary education system and rapidly evolving global technology and industry standards.
Masari said the centres would provide students and lecturers with practical training in areas including Artificial Intelligence, cybersecurity, robotics and software development.
He said the initiative was designed to strengthen digital competencies, improve graduate employability and promote innovation among young Nigerians.
“The board of trustees recognised the need to align Nigeria’s education system with emerging global technological and industry standards,” Masari said.
He urged the management of the Federal Polytechnic, Oko, to ensure that the facility was properly maintained and secured, while its equipment should be regularly upgraded to keep pace with technological developments.
Executive Secretary of TETFund, Sonny Echono, said the centres represents more than investments in physical infrastructure, describing them as investments in human capital and Nigeria’s technological future.
“For us, the centre represents much more than a physical facility. It is an investment in people; an investment in possibilities; and, ultimately, an investment in the future of Nigeria,” Echono said.
He said improved access to digital learning, innovation and technology would enable young Nigerians to convert their ideas into solutions and their skills into employment and entrepreneurial opportunities.
Echono added that the intervention is part of TETFund’s broader commitment to developing a knowledge-driven economy and expanding digital inclusion across tertiary institutions.
He said the fund was partnering with the Renewed Hope Initiative to ensure that young Nigerians were equipped to play a leading role in shaping the country’s future.
The First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, who commissioned the South-East centre, described the facility as an important investment in Nigerian youths.
She said the centre would provide students, lecturers and other beneficiaries with practical skills in digital literacy, software development, data science, multimedia, online learning, entrepreneurship and emerging technologies, including AI.
Tinubu prayed for the facility to have a lasting impact on the institution and its beneficiaries.
The commissioning was held alongside the launch of the National Community Food Bank Programme for the South-East Zone.
The Rector of the Federal Polytechnic, Oko, Chioma Awuzie, described the ICT centre as a landmark achievement for the institution.
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Awuzie said the facility, alongside the Chemical Engineering Building and Students’ Examination Centre, reflected the impact of TETFund interventions at the polytechnic.
According to her, the centre would help bridge the gap between theoretical learning and practical technological experience by exposing students to skills required in the modern economy.
“The world is increasingly driven by technology, artificial intelligence, digital skills, innovation and knowledge. Our youths must therefore be equipped not merely to participate, but to excel and lead,” she said.
She added that the centre would provide students with opportunities for digital skills acquisition, employment, entrepreneurship, access to educational resources, technology, innovation and networking.
