The Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, Sonny Echono, has inaugurated an advisory committee to oversee the selection of institutions for six new Centres of Excellence. The initiative aims to position Nigeria as a key player in the global technology landscape. Echono disclosed in Abuja that these centres will focus on Robotics, Coding, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Cybersecurity.
This development will increase the number of TETFund supported Centres of Excellence from 30 to 36. The Executive Secretary highlighted the strategic importance of this expansion. “We are not only addressing issues around national security, but we are also preparing future generations of our youthful population to contribute meaningfully to national development and to fill knowledge and skills gaps globally,” Echono stated.
The advisory committee, chaired by Prof. Yakubu Ochefu, former Secretary General of the Committee of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities, is tasked with identifying institutions excelling in specified technological fields. It will establish transparent criteria and recommend six public universities to host the facilities. Echono emphasised that selections must represent all six geopolitical zones as required by the TETFund Act of 2011.
Furthermore, the Executive Secretary directed that the first phase of the assignment be concluded within 30 days. He explained that the centres are designed to provide state of the art facilities for students and researchers, thereby boosting innovation and global competitiveness in emerging fields.
Responding to the charge, Prof. Ochefu pledged that the panel would ensure a merit based selection process. He assured that only universities with proven capacity would be chosen. The committee will continue to play an advisory role in the development of the centres to ensure high quality work.
