The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, has highlighted that the heavy reliance on foreign textbooks strains foreign exchange reserves. He made this observation during a public ceremony in Abuja where the Federal Government unveiled 82 academic textbooks authored by Nigerian scholars.
Alausa stated that promoting indigenous academic materials would provide students and lecturers with resources tailored to the country’s needs. "Promoting Nigerian authored academic materials will not only reduce dependence on imported books but also provide students and lecturers with resources tailored to the country’s needs," he noted.
The project was developed under the Higher Education Book Development Intervention Project of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund. The Minister explained that the intervention focuses on publishing academic textbooks, supporting professional association journals, and establishing academic publishing centres in tertiary institutions.
Executive Secretary of TETFund, Arc. Sonny Echono, disclosed that more than 400,000 copies of the books would be distributed nationwide. He revealed that 72 of the titles were newly authored under the programme, while 10 others were contributed by distinguished scholars. Echono added that the Fund has so far published 202 textbooks, with additional titles currently under evaluation.
Participants observed a minute’s silence in honour of Valerie Young Harry, a late author whose work contributed to the programme. Chairman of the TETFund Board of Trustees, Aminu Bello Masari, described her contributions as a lasting legacy.
