By Felix Khanoba
The Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Arch Sonny Echono, has revealed that four of the proposed six multi-purpose zonal laboratories across the country would be fully equipped and operational before 2027.
Echono made the disclosure on Friday in Abuja while receiving the report of the Advisory Committee on the Equipping of TETFund Multipurpose Zonal Laboratories, headed by former Acting Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission, Chris Maiyaki.
The committee, inaugurated on February 17, 2026, was mandated to advise TETFund on suitable equipment requirements for the six regional laboratories situated across Nigeria’s geopolitical zones.
Speaking during the event, Echono explained that the idea of establishing the laboratories had existed for more than a decade but suffered setbacks after the government at the time prioritised the creation of new universities over regional research centres.
He noted that emerging challenges in science, technology and healthcare had further underscored the importance of modern laboratories to drive research and industrial growth in the country.
According to him, “Our country is in dear need of these facilities as the engines of growth to stimulate our industrial transformation and research.
“The flagship of these efforts are these multi-purpose laboratories. They will wipe away our sense of shame and restore our national pride,” he added.
Echono said the projects were being executed in phases because of funding limitations, adding that Bayero University Kano was among the first institutions nearing completion and would begin receiving equipment before August this year.
He further disclosed that three additional laboratories were expected to reach advanced completion by February next year, raising the number of operational centres to four before 2027.
The TETFund boss stated that the agency decided to align the procurement and installation of equipment with the completion of the buildings to avoid inaugurating uncompleted facilities.
“We thought it wise rather than wait and commission empty buildings, it was good to synchronise also the equipment phase so we will start the equipment procurement and installation from Kano that is ready to receive them,” he said.
He also said members of the advisory committee would remain involved in the implementation process to ensure all supplied equipment met approved standards and specifications.
“We want to ensure that the right equipment and the right quality are what we get, even if we need to send some committee members for pre-shipment inspection,” he added.
Earlier, Maiyaki disclosed that the committee reviewed several policy documents and previous reports relating to the laboratories, in addition to carrying out inspection visits to the six host institutions.
The institutions include Bayero University Kano, Yakubu Gowon University, University of Lagos, University of Maiduguri, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus and University of Port Harcourt.
Maiyaki observed that the level of construction varied across the sites, noting that Bayero University Kano had recorded about 80 per cent completion, while facilities at the University of Maiduguri and University of Nigeria remained at preliminary stages.
He cautioned against installing advanced scientific equipment in unfinished structures, warning that such equipment could be permanently damaged.
“The committee believes strongly that the equipment procurement and installation must be synchronised with the readiness of the buildings,” he stated.
Maiyaki added that the laboratories would boost research capacity, postgraduate training, innovation and technological advancement nationwide.
He also disclosed that the committee prepared a detailed multidisciplinary equipment list covering engineering, physical sciences, life sciences, computing, information technology and specialised laboratory systems.
