The Federal Government has expanded the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund)/Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) ICT Experience Centre programme to 15 additional tertiary institutions across the country.
First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, disclosed this on Tuesday while commissioning the ICT Experience Centre at Kwara State University (KWASU), Malete.
Represented at the ceremony by the wife of the Vice President, Hajia Nana Shettima, the First Lady said construction was already underway in tertiary institutions across Adamawa, Bayelsa, Borno, Delta, Edo, Enugu, Imo, Katsina, Nasarawa, Niger, Ondo, Osun, Rivers, Yobe and Zamfara states.
She said the expansion was part of President Bola Tinubu’s administration’s efforts to equip Nigerian youths with the knowledge and skills required to compete in an increasingly technology-driven global economy.
According to her, the ICT Experience Centre commissioned at KWASU represented “opportunity, innovation, knowledge and hope” for young people in Kwara State and beyond.
She said the initiative demonstrated the Federal Government’s commitment to advancing education and digital inclusion in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda’s focus on youth empowerment, education, innovation and economic transformation.
The First Lady explained that the KWASU facility was designed as a modern technology hub equipped with ICT laboratories, interactive digital displays, conference facilities and exhibition spaces to promote learning, creativity, research and technological advancement.
She noted that KWASU was among six tertiary institutions selected for the pilot phase of the programme, with one institution representing each of the six geopolitical zones.
Tinubu said ICT Experience Centres had already been commissioned in other geopolitical zones, while those at Kaduna State University and Taraba State University would be commissioned soon.
She urged students to take ownership of the facility and maximise the opportunities it offers.
“To our dear students, this centre has been established for you, to help you learn, innovate, develop solutions and unlock your full potential,” she said.
She also encouraged them to deploy technology positively to transform their lives, communities and the nation.
Centres to Cost N1bn Each
The Executive Secretary of TETFund, Arc Sonny Echono, represented by the Director of Monitoring and Evaluation, Arc Olajide Babatunde, said the TETFund Board had approved the establishment of an ICT Experience Centre in each of the six geopolitical zones.
He disclosed that each centre was estimated to cost about N1 billion.
Echono said the facilities were designed to equip students and lecturers with critical digital skills in emerging areas such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, robotics and software development.
He said the initiative was conceived to align Nigeria’s education system with emerging global technology and industrial standards.
According to him, the centres would expose beneficiaries to contemporary technologies and their applications in critical sectors including security, agriculture, healthcare, media and mining.
He added that the programme would enhance graduate employability while fostering innovation and practical skills development.
The TETFund boss described the KWASU centre as one of the foremost ICT Experience Centres being delivered across the country and the third to be commissioned in 2026.
He said the facility was fully furnished and air-conditioned, with supporting power and municipal infrastructure, adding that it was designed to provide a conducive environment for students and researchers to acquire practical competencies, develop ideas and create innovative solutions.
Echono commended the First Lady for her commitment to youth empowerment and advancement, saying her support had contributed significantly to initiatives aimed at preparing Nigerian youths for the technology-driven global economy.
He urged the university management to take full ownership of the facility, ensure proper maintenance and security of the equipment, and regularly update the centre in line with technological developments.
KWASU Pledges Maximum Use
Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor of KWASU, Prof. Shaykh-Luqman Jimoh, described the centre as a strategic investment in human capital, innovation and entrepreneurship.
Jimoh said the facility represented “vision, belief and an investment in the Nigerian youth to better shape the future of our nation.”
He thanked the First Lady for facilitating the intervention, saying the project demonstrated the Federal Government’s recognition of the potential of Nigerian students and its commitment to providing them with the knowledge, skills and technologies needed to compete globally.
“This centre is an investment in human capital, in innovation, in entrepreneurship, and most importantly, it is an investment in the future of Nigeria,” he said.
The vice-chancellor assured that the facility would be put to maximum use for the benefit of students, researchers and the wider university community.
“We will use it, we will explore it, experiment in it, learn and innovate in it,” he added.
