FG pushes practical learning as TETFund reports N1.6tn funding

FG pushes practical learning as TETFund reports N1.6tn funding

The Federal Government has proposed an 80 per cent practical and 20 per cent theoretical learning model for agricultural programmes in tertiary institutions to strengthen skills development and improve graduate employability.

The proposal was highlighted at the 2026 Tertiary Education Trust Fund, TETFund, National Town Hall Meeting in Abuja, where stakeholders discussed funding, research and human capital development.

Representing the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, the Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmad, highlighted curriculum reforms aimed at making learning more practical and responsive to industry needs.

Chairman of the TETFund Board of Trustees, Aminu Bello Masari, disclosed that the Fund’s budget increased from 320.3 billion naira in 2023 to 1.6 trillion naira in 2025.

He stressed the need for the increased investment to deliver measurable improvements in teaching, research and the quality of graduates produced by Nigerian institutions.

TETFund also committed 10 billion naira in 2026 to skills acquisition centres in polytechnics, while approximately 6.09 billion naira was approved for 174 research proposals under the National Research Fund’s 2025 grant cycle.

The Fund’s Executive Secretary, Arc. Sonny Echono, highlighted ongoing interventions in infrastructure and student welfare, revealing that more than 160 projects were ready for commissioning nationwide.

The interventions cover infrastructure development, research, staff training and skills acquisition, as part of efforts to improve the quality of tertiary education and prepare graduates for the demands of a changing economy.