FG Unveils N70bn Power Revolution in Tertiary Institutions — 18 Universities, Polytechnics to Benefit from Mini Grid Project

The Federal Government, through the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), has announced a massive N70 billion allocation for mini grid power projects across 18 tertiary institutions nationwide, in what is being described as a landmark step towards ending decades of crippling power outages in Nigerian campuses.

The disclosure was made on Friday in Uyo by Mr. Aboh Uduyok, a member of TETFund’s Board of Trustees (South-South Zone), during the 2025 town hall meeting with stakeholders of beneficiary institutions in the region.

According to Uduyok, the initiative, under the 2025 intervention cycle, is specifically designed to provide sustainable, renewable, and cost-effective electricity solutions, thereby slashing operational costs, boosting research output, and transforming the academic environment in the country’s higher institutions.

> “One of the most persistent challenges our tertiary institutions face is the high cost and unreliability of electricity supply. This N70 billion mini grid project will ensure stable power, enhance learning, and support cutting-edge research across the selected institutions,” Uduyok declared.

South-South Institutions Among Major Beneficiaries

Several institutions in the South-South region have been earmarked for the intervention. They include the Federal University of Science and Technology, Ikot Abasi; Bayelsa State Polytechnic, Aleibiri; Admiralty University, Ibusa; Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island; and the University of Cross River State.

In addition to the mini grid project, Uduyok revealed that institutions in the region would also benefit from Disaster Recovery Interventions and other high-impact projects, spanning infrastructure, research development, teaching practice support, and academic training.

He called on stakeholders to partner with TETFund for sustainable and transparent project execution, urging institutions to imbibe a culture of ownership and maintenance to preserve the multi-billion-naira investments.

Delivering a paper titled “TETFund and the Future of Tertiary Education in Nigeria”, Mr. Ntia Thompson, Chief Executive Officer of Carsem Consult Limited, commended the agency’s interventions but stressed the need for a more needs-based allocation model.

He further challenged TETFund to transition from being a mere funder to a catalytic partner, championing innovation and commercialization of research outcomes.

> “The South-South needs a dedicated Innovation Window for practical research. Alumni, diaspora communities, and industries should also be mobilized as co-investors. Together, we can co-design a five-year South-South Tertiary Development Plan,” Thompson suggested.

Stakeholders Demand More — Call for Tax Hike, Staff Development Support

Stakeholders at the event, while applauding TETFund’s efforts, called for an increase in the education tax from 3% to at least 3.5%, insisting that the current increment of 0.5% from the previous 2.5% is insufficient to meet the rising demands of the sector.

They also questioned the establishment of a “special desk” for the Federal Ministry of Education within TETFund, describing it as a potential bottleneck rather than a solution.

In a passionate appeal, Dr. Moses Umoessien, Rector of Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic, urged TETFund to authorize at least one university in every state to run Master’s and PhD programmes for polytechnic lecturers.

He explained that such approval would help polytechnic lecturers meet the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) directive, which requires all academic staff without higher qualifications to upgrade or risk being converted to non-teaching staff.

> “With state-based approval, lecturers can conveniently pursue postgraduate studies on a part-time basis without abandoning their jobs, ensuring that polytechnics are not stripped of qualified manpower,” Umoessien said.

With the N70 billion mini grid project, TETFund appears poised to rewrite the story of Nigeria’s higher education system, where erratic power supply has long crippled laboratories, disrupted academic calendars, and slowed the pace of innovation.

For students and staff across the 18 selected institutions, the coming months may herald a new dawn of stable electricity, revitalized research, and improved academic productivity.