President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved ₦70 billion for the launch of a Mini-Grid Solar Power Project under the 2025 intervention plan of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund).
The announcement was made in Abuja by the Chairman of the TETFund Board of Trustees, Rt. Hon. Aminu Bello Masari, during the 2025 TETFund National Town Hall Meeting, which brought together government officials, education administrators, and academic union representatives.
Masari explained that the initiative aims to boost clean energy adoption across Nigeria’s tertiary institutions, reduce dependence on the national grid, and promote sustainability. He revealed that 12 universities and colleges have been selected for the first phase, including Nigerian Army University, Biu; Northwest University, Kano; Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma; Alvan Ikoku University of Education, Owerri; and Lagos State University.
Highlighting progress made under Tinubu’s leadership, Masari noted that over 8,000 scholars have benefited from local postgraduate scholarships funded by TETFund, with many others receiving grants for teaching practice, research, and conference participation.
He reaffirmed the Fund’s commitment to fostering innovation and global competitiveness in Nigerian higher institutions through digital learning platforms, renewable energy investments, and research partnerships with industry and international organizations.
TETFund Executive Secretary, Arc. Sonny Echono, commended President Tinubu for increasing the education tax from 2.5% to 3%, describing it as a major boost to the agency’s intervention capacity. He also disclosed that foreign scholarship programmes have been paused—except for specialized courses—pending a new policy to ensure sponsored scholars return to Nigeria after their studies.
Former ASUU president, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, used the occasion to warn against the unchecked creation of new universities, describing many as “constituency projects” designed to access TETFund’s resources. He called on the National Assembly to introduce legislation preventing new institutions from benefitting from TETFund until they have operated for at least five to ten years.
The town hall meeting emphasized accountability, renewable energy development, and research-driven education as key pillars of TETFund’s ongoing transformation agenda.
