The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has announced plans to establish six new Centres of Excellence in Robotics, Coding, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning and Cybersecurity across Nigerian tertiary institutions.
The Fund disclosed that the initiative will increase the number of TETFund supported Centres of Excellence nationwide from 30 to 36 once the new centres become operational.
Speaking at the Fund’s headquarters in Abuja during the inauguration of the Advisory Committee on Robotics, Coding, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning Centres and Cybersecurity, the Executive Secretary of TETFund, Arc. Sonny Echono, said the committee’s primary task is to guide the selection of institutions that will host the centres.
The committee is chaired by Professor Yakubu Ochefu, the immediate past Secretary-General of the Committee of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities.
According to the terms of reference, the committee will identify institutions with proven strengths and capacity in Robotics, Coding, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning and Cybersecurity studies. It is also expected to develop criteria and conditions for selecting beneficiary institutions and recommend up to six universities to host the centres, ensuring representation across the six geopolitical zones in line with the provisions of the TETFund Act of 2011.
Echono highlighted the national importance of the initiative, noting that the move is aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s capacity in emerging technologies while also addressing skills gaps.
“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,” he said.
He added that approval had been secured from the President for the establishment of the additional centres across the country.
“We secured Mr. President’s approval to establish at least six additional centres of excellence across the country. This is deliberate, as we aim to reflect all six geopolitical zones while tapping into the abundant talents that exist in Nigeria,” he said.
Echono explained that the centres would be hosted exclusively by public universities, where students and researchers would have access to state-of-the-art facilities to drive innovation and competitiveness in emerging technological fields.
He directed the committee to complete the first phase of its assignment within 30 days, adding that the panel would continue to guide the selected institutions in establishing and developing the centres.
Responding on behalf of the committee, its chairman, Prof. Ochefu, assured that the panel would develop clear and merit based criteria to identify institutions with proven capacity in the relevant fields, while ensuring equitable representation across the six geopolitical zones in accordance with the TETFund Act.
