The Federal Government says it has invested more than ₦1 trillion in Nigerian universities, polytechnics and colleges of education over the past two years to improve access to higher education.
Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, made the disclosure during a meeting with members of the National Committee for the Advancement of Occupational Therapy, Audiology and Speech and Language Therapy Education.
According to a statement issued on Tuesday by the Minister’s Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Ikharo Attah, Alausa said the Tinubu administration is committed to ensuring that no qualified student is denied tertiary education because of financial hardship.
He said the government’s education reforms are aimed at making higher education accessible to all Nigerians, regardless of their economic background.
Alausa stated that President Bola Tinubu has prioritised human capital development through policies designed to remove financial barriers that previously prevented many young Nigerians from attending universities and other tertiary institutions.
He praised the President’s commitment to youth development, saying the reforms are intended to equip students with opportunities to contribute meaningfully to their communities and the nation’s growth.
The minister said the government has backed its promises with major investments in tertiary education infrastructure and facilities.
According to him, the funding includes ₦250 billion for new student hostels, over ₦150 billion for rehabilitating hostels, classrooms and workshops, and more than ₦130 billion for upgrading medical schools.
He added that ₦52 billion was approved for modern equipment in 18 medical schools, while nearly ₦30 billion was invested in 11 medical simulation laboratories. Another ₦110 billion was allocated for engineering workshops and equipment in universities and polytechnics.
Alausa described the interventions as some of the biggest investments in Nigeria’s tertiary education sector, covering infrastructure, teaching facilities, research capacity and practical training.
He said the projects are expected to produce graduates with the technical skills and knowledge needed to support innovation, industrialisation and economic growth.
At the meeting, the committee’s chairman, Dr. Victoria Omua Amu, briefed the minister on its progress, revealing that a one-year implementation plan and governance framework had been developed.
She said six Nigerian universities currently offer Audiology programmes, five run Occupational Therapy, while three offer Speech and Language Therapy. She added that the University of Benin will introduce an Occupational Therapy programme in the 2026/2027 academic session.
Amu, however, identified delays in the release of TETFund support as a major challenge affecting the committee’s implementation efforts.
The Federal Government has also introduced the Nigerian Education Loan Fund and increased investments through TETFund as part of broader efforts to improve tertiary education and remove financial barriers for students.
