The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has approved a ₦70 billion intervention to tackle the persistent power shortages in Nigerian universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education through the deployment of solar energy solutions.
Chairman of the TETFund Board of Trustees, Rt. Hon. Aminu Bello Masari, announced the initiative on Wednesday during the 2025 TETFund National Town Hall Meeting in Abuja.
Masari said the newly introduced Mini-Grid Solar Power Project would provide reliable, renewable, and affordable electricity to 18 tertiary institutions across the country. He described the initiative as a deliberate step towards ensuring energy sustainability and improving the quality of teaching, research, and innovation.
“This project is a deliberate step towards energy sustainability, innovation, and academic excellence,” Masari stated. “Stable electricity remains the foundation for effective teaching, research, and technological growth.”
He explained that the investment would help institutions reduce dependence on the national grid and cut energy costs, thereby freeing up resources for academic development. Masari highlighted that TETFund’s current strategy focuses on transforming tertiary education into a hub of innovation and productivity, strengthening transparency and impact assessment, and advancing research, technology, and entrepreneurship.
The TETFund chairman commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for providing the policy framework through the Renewed Hope Agenda, which he said is repositioning TETFund as a catalyst for national development driven by knowledge and innovation.
Masari outlined some of the Fund’s achievements, including the construction of lecture theatres, laboratories, ICT resource centers, libraries, and hostels across tertiary institutions nationwide. He said TETFund has also established 48 Centers of Excellence and multipurpose research laboratories focusing on renewable energy, biotechnology, food security, governance, and health sciences.
On medical education, Masari disclosed that the Fund had launched simulation facilities in eight universities—the first of their kind in Nigeria—to enhance hands-on clinical training. He added that TETFund’s agricultural projects and innovation hubs were fostering entrepreneurship and practical learning among students.
In his remarks, the Executive Secretary of TETFund, Arc. Sonny Echono, said the ₦70 billion solar project was part of a broader effort to build self-sustaining, energy-secure campuses nationwide.
Echono revealed that President Tinubu had mobilised over ₦200 billion in additional funding from alternative sources to complement TETFund’s investment, ensuring stable power across tertiary institutions. “Mr. President is personally committed to ending the power crisis in our tertiary institutions. We are building self-sustaining, energy-secure campuses for the future,” he said.
He commended the President for safeguarding the education tax rate at 3 per cent and approving several student welfare initiatives, including the construction of 24 Renewed Hope Hostels, with 72 more planned for next year.
Echono added that TETFund would introduce electric vehicle transport systems on campuses before the end of the year to improve student mobility and reduce transport costs. “President Tinubu believes every Nigerian student deserves to learn and live in dignity. He insists that no child should be denied education because of poverty, a commitment reflected in the new National Student Loan Scheme,” he said.
Echono also noted that the government’s renewed investment in human capital development was aimed at reversing the brain drain and promoting innovation-driven growth. According to him, energy security, digital access, and improved student welfare are at the heart of the administration’s education reforms.
He emphasized that the solar mini-grid project would be executed in phases, beginning with 18 pilot institutions selected across geopolitical zones. These institutions, he said, would serve as demonstration centers for green energy transition within Nigeria’s higher education system.
“The target is to make every campus self-sufficient in power generation and management within the next three years,” Echono said. “Reliable electricity will reduce costs, improve research productivity, and make our universities more competitive globally.”
He added that TETFund’s new approach aligns with the global shift towards clean energy, in line with Nigeria’s commitment to the Paris Climate Agreement and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Echono reaffirmed that the project would create jobs for local engineers, solar technicians, and renewable energy entrepreneurs, while promoting sustainability and capacity building. He said the Fund would also work closely with universities to train students and staff in solar system maintenance and energy management.
“The solar project is not just about providing power; it’s about equipping our institutions with the skills and infrastructure to drive Nigeria’s energy transition,” he said.
The ₦70 billion TETFund Solar Power Project is expected to commence implementation before the end of 2025, with completion of the first phase projected for mid-2026.
