By Felix Khanoba
The Federal Government on Wednesday unveiled 82 newly developed academic textbooks authored by Nigerian scholars as part of efforts to improve teaching and learning across the nation’s universities, polytechnics, among others.
The textbooks, comprising 72 academic texts and 10 additional titles, were produced under the Higher Education Book Development Intervention Project of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund).
Presenting the books in Abuja, the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, said the initiative demonstrates the Federal Government’s commitment to raising the standard of higher education and promoting academic excellence in Nigeria.
According to him, the intervention is aimed at tackling the shortage of locally authored textbooks while reducing the nation’s reliance on foreign academic materials.
“As we strive to transform our education sector, we profoundly recognise the critical importance of academic textbooks in tertiary education ecosystem,” he said.
Alausa noted that many Nigerian tertiary institutions have over time depended heavily on foreign textbooks, a trend that places pressure on foreign exchange and discourages indigenous authorship.
He explained that encouraging Nigerian academics to produce quality textbooks would make relevant learning materials available across a wide range of disciplines.
The minister added that the initiative would particularly strengthen fields critical to national development such as science, technology and engineering.
Alausa further explained that the TETFund Book Development Intervention focuses on publishing academic textbooks, supporting professional association journals and establishing academic publishing centres.
He commended the scholars, publishers and other stakeholders who contributed to the project, noting that their efforts would enhance Nigeria’s academic visibility globally.
The minister also acknowledged the backing of President Bola Tinubu for reforms designed to reposition the education sector.
He expressed optimism that the textbooks would help bridge the gap in indigenous academic publishing while expanding access to relevant learning resources in tertiary institutions.
Also speaking at the event, the Executive Secretary of TETFund, Arc. Sonny Echono, said the fund’s Board of Trustees (BOT) established a Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) in 2009 to ensure effective implementation of the book development initiative.
He explained that the project was designed to promote credible, locally produced academic resources.
According to him, the committee ensures strict academic standards and a credible peer review process for manuscripts submitted under the programme.
Echono noted that the project initially recorded slow progress, with only 20 textbooks published in 2014 and none afterward.
“From the onset, there was no significant progress as only 20 textbooks were published in 2014 and none thereafter.
“Upon my assumption of office in 2022, the manuscript’s evaluation process was abrased and refocused, while the new cohort of the Technical Advisory Committee was reconstituted with a two-year tenure.
“The strategy employed led to the publication, a public presentation of 60 titles of TETFund’s sponsored books in various subjects.
“10 titles were presented to the public on the Aug. 23, 2022, while another 50 titles were presented on Jan. 5, 2023.
“The committee was subsequently reconstituted again in 2024, and based on the fresh targets set, 50 additional TETFund sponsored books were published and presented to the public on March 25, 2025.
“Altogether, with this presentation of 82 books, the fund has so far published 202 academic textbook titles, while several others are currently undergoing evaluation,” he said.
Echono disclosed that the fund would begin distributing 400,000 copies of the textbooks to beneficiary institutions nationwide.
He added that digital versions would also be uploaded on TETFund platforms to enable wider access for students and researchers.
Chairman of the Technical Advisory Committee on Academic Book Publication and Professional Journal, Prof. Albert Abegunde, said the textbooks cover a wide range of disciplines.
These include medicine and pharmacy, arts and literature, law, engineering and technology, agriculture, environmental studies, economics, management sciences and research methodology, among others.
He said the initiative is intended to reduce dependence on foreign academic materials while promoting locally produced content that reflects Nigeria’s realities and aspirations.
