The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to transforming Nigeria’s tertiary education landscape by inviting eligible private tertiary institutions to join the Tertiary Education Research and Application Service (TERAS), a national digital platform designed to enhance teaching, learning, research, innovation, and institutional efficiency.
The Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa, CON, made the call as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s education ecosystem through strategic public–private collaboration, stressing that sustainable progress in education requires shared responsibility and inclusive partnerships between government and private sector stakeholders.
Dr. Alausa explained that the expansion of TERAS, implemented in collaboration with the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), represents a major milestone in Nigeria’s digital education reform agenda. While the platform has traditionally supported public universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education, eligible private institutions are now invited to formally partner with TETFund and benefit from the same premium digital services delivered at national scale.
According to the Minister, TERAS provides a unified national digital infrastructure offering structured onboarding, reliable connectivity services, cost efficiency, standardised quality assurance mechanisms, and data-driven decision-making tools. These features are critical to improving institutional performance and ensuring Nigerian tertiary institutions remain competitive locally and globally.
He noted that the inclusion of private institutions aligns with the Federal Government’s vision of a unified, inclusive, and resilient higher education ecosystem anchored on global best practices. Collective engagement through TERAS, he said, would enhance collaboration, strengthen bargaining power, and accelerate the development of a shared digital future.
The Ministry reaffirmed that the initiative aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises access to quality, inclusive education and global competitiveness.
Boriowo FolasadeDirector, Press and Public Relations
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