The Federal Government of Nigeria and the Government of India have taken significant steps toward establishing the first Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) campus in Nigeria, a move aimed at boosting science, technology, and innovation-driven education in the country.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa (CON), disclosed this during a courtesy visit by the Indian High Commissioner to Nigeria, H.E. Abhishek Singh, at the Ministry’s headquarters in Abuja.
Dr. Alausa described the initiative as a major milestone in Nigeria–India educational collaboration and a key element of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which seeks to modernize Nigeria’s education system and enhance global competitiveness.
According to the Minister, the Federal Government Academy (FGA), Suleja, has been identified as the proposed site for the IIT Nigeria campus, which will be developed into an autonomous centre of excellence operating at par with global IIT standards.
> “This partnership represents a new chapter in our commitment to promoting science, technology, and innovation in Nigeria,” Dr. Alausa said. “The IIT model will help us nurture young minds and prepare them for the global knowledge economy.”
To accelerate implementation, the Ministry has constituted a Joint Technical Working Group, led by Dr. Layi Olatawura and Mrs. Mary Millicent Nnawuogo, to coordinate feasibility studies and work closely with the Indian High Commission on the project’s rollout.
Dr. Alausa also commended India for its continued support to Nigeria’s human capital development through the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) and Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) programmes, which have provided scholarships and training opportunities for Nigerian students and professionals.
In his remarks, High Commissioner Abhishek Singh reaffirmed India’s commitment to the project, noting that the successful establishment of IIT Madras Zanzibar in East Africa provides a model for the Nigerian initiative.
“India and Nigeria share a deep and historic relationship. The IIT Nigeria project will strengthen that bond while advancing education and innovation across Africa,” Singh said.
Both countries pledged to work together to ensure that IIT Nigeria becomes a world-class hub for research, innovation, and technology transfer, positioning Nigeria as a regional leader in science and engineering education.
EduTimes Africa, a product of Education Times Africa, is a magazine publication that aims to lend its support to close the yawning gap in Africa's educational development.