By Felix Khanoba
The Federal Government is set to extend the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund)/Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) ICT Experience Centre programme to 15 additional tertiary institutions across Nigeria.
First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, disclosed this on Tuesday while commissioning the ICT Experience Centre at Kwara State University (KWASU), Malete.
Represented at the event by the wife of the Vice President, Hajia Nana Shettima, the First Lady said construction work had commenced at institutions in Adamawa, Bayelsa, Borno, Delta, Edo, Enugu, Imo, Katsina, Nasarawa, Niger, Ondo, Osun, Rivers, Yobe and Zamfara states.
She explained that the expansion was aimed at giving young Nigerians access to the knowledge, technology and practical skills required to remain competitive in an increasingly digital global economy.
“The centre we are commissioning today represents opportunity, innovation, knowledge and hope for the future of young people in Kwara State and beyond,” she said.
According to her, the initiative reflects the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening education and expanding digital inclusion, particularly through the Renewed Hope Agenda’s emphasis on youth empowerment, education, innovation and economic transformation.
Tinubu said the KWASU centre was developed as a modern technology hub with ICT laboratories, interactive digital displays, conference facilities and exhibition spaces designed to support learning, research, creativity and technological development.
She recalled that KWASU was among the six institutions selected for the pilot phase of the programme, with each of the country’s six geopolitical zones represented.
The First Lady noted that ICT Experience Centres had already been commissioned in institutions in other geopolitical zones, adding that facilities at Kaduna State University and Taraba State University would be commissioned soon.
She charged the students to make effective use of the centre and exploit the opportunities provided by the facility.
“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 the students to deploy technology constructively “to transform your lives, communities and our nation.”
Speaking on behalf of the Executive Secretary of TETFund, Arc Sonny Echono, 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.
According to Echono, the centres were conceived to strengthen the digital capabilities of students and lecturers in emerging fields such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, robotics and software development.
“As technology continues to transform economies, the Board of Trustees recognised the need to align Nigeria’s education system with emerging global technology and industrial standards,” he said.
He added that the facilities would provide beneficiaries with exposure to modern technologies and their applications in critical sectors, including security, agriculture, healthcare, media and mining.
Echono said the programme would also contribute to improving graduate employability while encouraging research, creativity and innovation.
He described the KWASU facility as one of the leading ICT Experience Centres being delivered nationwide and the third to be commissioned in 2026.
“The facility is appropriately furnished and fully air-conditioned, with supporting power and municipal infrastructure. Beyond providing the equipment, it offers a conducive environment for acquiring practical competencies, exploring ideas and developing innovative solutions,” he said.
The TETFund executive secretary commended the First Lady for her “passion for empowerment and advancement of our young people,” noting that her support had contributed significantly to initiatives designed to prepare Nigerian youths for the demands of a technology-driven global economy.
He tasked the university management with ensuring effective ownership and maintenance of the facility, as well as protecting its equipment and keeping it updated as technology evolves.
In his remarks, KWASU Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Shaykh-Luqman Jimoh, described the centre as an important investment in human capital development, innovation and entrepreneurship.
He said the facility represented “vision, belief and an investment in the Nigerian youth to better shape the future of our nation.”
Jimoh expressed appreciation to the First Lady for facilitating the intervention, saying the project demonstrated the Federal Government’s confidence in the potential of Nigerian students and its willingness to equip them with the knowledge, skills and technologies needed to compete in a rapidly changing world.
“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 university would ensure that the facility served students, researchers and the broader university community effectively.
“We will use it, we will explore it, experiment in it, learn and innovate in it,” he said.
