FG Unveils 82 TETFund-Sponsored Textbooks for Tertiary Institutions

FG Unveils 82 TETFund-Sponsored Textbooks for Tertiary Institutions

FELICIA ONAH, Abuja

The Federal Government has presented 82 academic textbooks authored by Nigerian scholars as part of efforts to strengthen teaching, learning and research in tertiary institutions across the country.

The books were unveiled on Wednesday in Abuja by the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, during the public presentation of publications produced under the Higher Education Book Development Intervention Project of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund).

Alausa said the intervention was aimed at addressing the shortage of locally authored textbooks and reducing the reliance of Nigerian tertiary institutions on foreign academic publications.

He disclosed that in addition to the 72 titles developed under the project, TETFund had also secured 10 other academic textbooks written by respected scholars for distribution to universities, polytechnics and colleges of education nationwide.

According to the minister, the initiative demonstrates the Federal Government’s commitment to improving the quality of education and promoting academic excellence within the country’s higher education system.

He noted that Nigerian institutions have for years depended heavily on foreign textbooks, a trend that places pressure on foreign exchange while limiting opportunities for indigenous scholars to contribute to global academic discourse.

Alausa explained that encouraging local authorship would not only expand the availability of relevant learning materials but also ensure that academic content reflects Nigeria’s realities and development priorities.

The minister said the project would particularly benefit critical fields such as science, technology and engineering, which are key drivers of national development.

He further explained that the TETFund book development initiative focuses on supporting the publication of academic textbooks, strengthening professional association journals and establishing academic publishing centres in tertiary institutions.

According to him, the Board of Trustees of TETFund created a Technical Advisory Group in 2009 to develop a framework for implementing the book development programme in Nigeria’s higher education sector.

Alausa also commended the authors, publishers and other stakeholders involved in the project for their contributions to advancing Nigeria’s academic reputation globally.

He acknowledged the support of Bola Tinubu for reforms aimed at revitalising the education sector, adding that the administration remained committed to ensuring stable academic calendars in tertiary institutions.

The minister expressed optimism that the newly published textbooks would help bridge the gap in indigenous academic publishing while improving access to relevant learning resources for students and lecturers.

He also encouraged academic unions to continue constructive engagement with government in resolving outstanding issues in the sector and urged TETFund to explore ways of expanding access to the books beyond tertiary institutions to promote wider knowledge sharing.

Earlier, the Executive Secretary of TETFund, Sonny Echono, said the initiative was designed to tackle the persistent shortage of quality tertiary-level textbooks and strengthen academic research and scholarship in Nigerian institutions.

Echono disclosed that 72 of the titles were newly written under the TETFund project, while 10 others were sourced from established scholars for use by beneficiary institutions.

He added that the fund has so far published 202 academic textbooks, with several more currently undergoing review and evaluation.

According to him, more than 400,000 copies of the books will be distributed to tertiary institutions across the country, while digital versions will also be made available online to enhance accessibility.

At the event, participants observed a minute’s silence in honour of one of the authors, Valerie Young Harry, who passed away shortly before the presentation.

In his remarks, the Chairman of the TETFund Board of Trustees, Aminu Bello Masari, described the late author’s contribution as a lasting legacy, noting that knowledge passed from one generation to another ensures that an individual’s impact outlives their lifetime.

Masari also emphasised the importance of translating knowledge into practical solutions and called for strategies to commercialise the books so that authors and their families can benefit from their intellectual efforts.