Tinubu approves ₦70bn TETFund solar power project for 12 tertiary institutions
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved ₦70 billion for the implementation of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) Mini-Grid Solar Power Project, which will provide sustainable energy solutions in 12 selected tertiary institutions across the country.
Aminu Bello Masari, Chairman of the TETFund Board of Trustees, announced this on Wednesday in Abuja at the 2025 TETFund National Town Hall Meeting, which brought together top government officials, vice-chancellors, rectors, provosts, and representatives of academic unions.
Masari, a former governor of Katsina State and ex-Speaker of the House of Representatives, said the solar initiative aims to promote renewable and sustainable energy solutions across Nigerian tertiary institutions. He disclosed that twelve institutions have been selected for the first phase of the project.
The benefiting institutions include the Nigerian Army University, Biu, Borno State; Northwest University, Kano; Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo State; Alvan Ikoku University of Education, Owerri, Imo State; and Lagos State University, among others.
According to Masari, the Town Hall Meeting was convened to enhance transparency, inclusivity, and responsiveness in the nation’s tertiary education system.
He highlighted major achievements recorded by the Fund under President Tinubu’s administration, noting that over 3,332 scholars have benefited from TETFund’s master’s degree sponsorships, while 4,796 have been supported for PhD programmes under the local component of the TETFund Scholarship for Academic Staff.
“The Fund continues to support teaching practice, conference attendance, research, and development, thereby ensuring that Nigerian tertiary institutions are equipped with a highly trained and globally exposed academic workforce,” Masari said.
He added that the Board envisions Nigerian tertiary institutions that are globally competitive, research-oriented, and innovation-driven, producing graduates who are employable, entrepreneurial, and capable of solving national challenges.
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“To achieve this, we will continue to strengthen accountability and transparency frameworks, expand investments in alternative energy and digital learning platforms, promote advanced research in agriculture, health, and technology, and deepen collaboration with industries and international partners to drive research commercialisation and sustainable impact,” he stated.
In his remarks, Sonny Echono, Executive Secretary of TETFund, commended President Tinubu for his strong support for tertiary education, especially through the recent increase in the education tax allocation from 2.5% to 3%. He said the increase has significantly enhanced the Fund’s intervention capacity.
Echono also clarified that the Fund had temporarily suspended foreign training of scholars, except for specialised programmes, pending the introduction of a new policy framework.
He explained that the decision followed the President’s directive to curb the trend of scholars absconding after completing government-sponsored studies abroad.
Also speaking at the event, Emmanuel Osodeke, former President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), cautioned against the proliferation of universities, describing many of them as “constituency projects.” He warned that such institutions are often created to access TETFund interventions rather than to improve access to quality education.
Osodeke urged the National Assembly to enact legislation preventing newly established universities and other tertiary institutions from accessing TETFund interventions until they have operated for at least five to ten years.
