TETFund North-Central Town Hall Seeks Education Reform »

Dr Mahmoud Bala Alfa has called for stronger emphasis on research, skills development, innovation and entrepreneurship in Nigeria’s tertiary institutions to make education investment more impactful across the North-Central region.

Alfa made the call at the 2026 Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) North-Central Zonal Town Hall Meeting held on Thursday at the Banquet Hall of the Kogi State Government House in Lokoja.

The meeting, organised by TETFund, brought together government officials, education stakeholders, institutional leaders and members of the public to deliberate on the future of tertiary education and how higher institutions can contribute more directly to regional development.

Among those in attendance were Kogi State Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo; Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris; Chairman of the TETFund Board of Trustees, Aminu Bello Masari; former Kogi State Governor, Captain Idris Wada; and Prof. Babatunde Bernard, who represented the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

The discussions centred on the need for universities, polytechnics and colleges of education to look beyond infrastructure development and place greater emphasis on research, practical skills, innovation and solutions to societal challenges.

Alfa said education should remain central to efforts to develop the human capacity required to drive economic growth in the North-Central region.

He said tertiary institutions should not only prepare young people to obtain certificates but should equip them with the knowledge and skills to create businesses, secure employment, undertake useful research and solve problems within their communities.

According to him, the North-Central region has significant opportunities in agriculture, solid minerals, manufacturing, technology and energy, but higher institutions must be better connected to these sectors for education and research to translate into economic development.

Under the 2026 intervention programme, the Federal Government, through TETFund, has approved approximately ₦2.53 billion for each public university, ₦1.87 billion for each polytechnic and ₦2.06 billion for each college of education.

Alfa said the scale of the investment made it necessary for stakeholders to ensure that the funds delivered measurable and sustainable outcomes.

He argued that the success of investment in tertiary education should not be judged solely by the number of buildings constructed, but also by the quality of graduates produced, research undertaken, problems solved and opportunities created for young people.

The education advocate also called for stronger collaboration among government, tertiary institutions, private businesses and researchers.

He said closer partnerships would enable institutions to better understand the needs of the economy and develop programmes capable of preparing young Nigerians for an evolving labour market.

Alfa further highlighted the importance of digital skills, technical education, entrepreneurship and research as emerging technologies continue to reshape employment and the workplace.

He said the North-Central region has the human and natural resources required to become a stronger hub for agriculture, mining, manufacturing and technology, stressing that education must play a central role in converting those opportunities into jobs and sustainable economic growth.

He commended TETFund for providing a platform for stakeholders to examine challenges confronting tertiary education and contribute ideas towards improving the sector.

Alfa expressed hope that recommendations from the town hall would translate into practical measures capable of strengthening tertiary institutions and expanding opportunities for young people across the North-Central region.