The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has allocated N70 billion to 18 institutions across Nigeria for a Mini Grid Power Project under its 2025 intervention cycle.
The announcement was made on Friday, by Board of Trustees (BOT) member for the South-South Zone, Aboh Uduyok, during the 2025 town hall meeting for stakeholders of TETFund beneficiary institutions in Uyo.
Uduyok explained that the initiative aims to address the persistent challenge of high electricity costs and frequent power outages in tertiary institutions.
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“To address one of the most persistent challenges facing our tertiary institutions, the high cost of electricity, the board has approved the Mini Grid Power Project under year 2025 intervention cycle,” he said.
“N70 billion has been allocated across 18 tertiary institutions which have been selected to benefit from sustainable mini grid energy solutions,” he added.
“This bold step will ensure a stable, cost-effective and renewable electricity supply to campuses, thereby reducing operational costs and enhancing research and learning.”
The BOT member noted that TETFund has supported several high-impact projects in the South-South, including disaster recovery interventions at Federal University of Science and Technology, Bayelsa State Polytechnic, Admiralty University, Niger Delta University, Wilberforce University, and University of Cross River State.
Uduyok urged stakeholders to partner with the agency for sustainable and transparent project execution and to maintain the facilities.
“We call on all stakeholders to own these facilities and uphold a culture of maintenance, as this ensures longevity and maximizes the benefits to our students,” he stressed.
In a related statement, Mr. Ntia Thompson, CEO of Carsem Consult Limited, said, “TETFund should transition from a funder to a catalytic partner for turning research into useful products and resilience.
“Regional partners should get involved in co-designing a 5-year South-South Tertiary Development Plan and mobilize alumni, diaspora, and industry as co-investors.”
The stakeholders also appealed for an increase in the education tax beyond the current 3% to meet the growing needs of Nigerian tertiary education.
“The current allocation is not sufficient to cater for the pressing infrastructural and research needs of our institutions,” they said.
