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Dr Tunji Alausa
The Federal Government has invested over N1 trillion into Nigeria’s tertiary education sector over the past two years, significantly expanding academic infrastructure while eliminating financial obstacles for indigent students.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, made this disclosure on Tuesday in Abuja during a strategic meeting with the National Committee for the Advancement of Occupational Therapy, Audiology, and Speech and Language Therapy Education.
Dr. Alausa emphasised that under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, access to higher education has been democratized so that financial hardship will no longer prevent qualified Nigerians from pursuing their academic goals.
“The President has opened up access to students so that not having money, or coming from an indigent family, will no longer stop anyone from achieving educational opportunities,” Alausa stated, describing the funding as a deliberate strategy to build a globally competitive workforce.
Key Investment Breakdown
According to the Minister, the N1 trillion allocation covers a wide range of infrastructural, medical, and technical upgrades across public tertiary institutions nationwide:
Sector / Project Focus Allocation Key Objective
New Student Hostels N250 Billion Constructing new residential facilities to expand accommodation capacity.
General Infrastructure Rehab N150 Billion Rehabilitating existing hostels, classrooms, and academic facilities.
Medical Education Overhaul N130 Billion Upgrading medical schools to address critical shortages in allied health fields.
Engineering and Tech Workshops N110 Billion Modernizing equipment in polytechnics and universities offering engineering.
Medical Equipment Procurement N52 Billion Supplying modern diagnostic and clinical equipment to 18 medical schools.
Medical Simulation Labs N30 Billion Establishing 11 state-of-the-art simulation labs for practical clinical training.
Strengthening Allied Health Sciences
Highlighting progress in specialized fields, the Chairman of the National Committee, Dr. Victoria Amu, updated the minister on the committee’s baseline assessment. Current data reveals that:
| Sector / Project Focus | Allocation | Key Objective |
| New Student Hostels | ₦250 Billion | Constructing new residential facilities to expand accommodation capacity. |
| General Infrastructure Rehab | ₦150 Billion | Rehabilitating existing hostels, classrooms, and academic facilities. |
| Medical Education Overhaul | ₦130 Billion | Upgrading medical schools to address critical shortages in allied health fields. |
| Engineering & Tech Workshops | ₦110 Billion | Modernizing equipment in polytechnics and universities offering engineering. |
| Medical Equipment Procurement | ₦52 Billion | Supplying modern diagnostic and clinical equipment to 18 medical schools. |
| Medical Simulation Labs | ₦30 Billion | Establishing 11 state-of-the-art simulation labs for practical clinical training. |
Strengthening Allied Health Sciences
Highlighting progress in specialized fields, the Chairman of the National Committee, Dr. Victoria Amu, updated the minister on the committee’s baseline assessment. Current data reveals that:
6 Nigerian universities currently offer Audiology programs.
5 universities offer Occupational Therapy.
3 universities offer Speech and Language Therapy.
While noting that governance structures and stakeholder consultations with the National Universities Commission (NUC) and the Medical Rehabilitation Therapists Registration Board of Nigeria (MRTB) are underway, Dr. Amu identified delays in TETFund support as a primary operational hurdle.
In response, Dr. Alausa reaffirmed the Ministry of Education’s commitment to resolving implementation bottlenecks, ensuring sustained funding for research, teaching, and specialized clinical training across the country.
