The initiative will increase the total number of TETFund-supported centres of excellence in the country from 30 to 36 once the new facilities become operational.

Speaking at the inauguration of the advisory committee for the project in Abuja, Sonny Echon, the executive secretary of TETFund, said the committee would guide the selection of institutions that will host the new centres.

Echono said the committee’s primary task is to identify universities with demonstrable strengths and capacity in Robotics, Coding, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning and Cybersecurity studies.

The advisory committee is chaired by Yakubu Ochefu, immediate past secretary-general of the committee of vice- chancellors of Nigerian universities.

According to the terms of reference, the panel will develop criteria and conditions for selecting beneficiary institutions and recommend up to six universities to host the proposed centres.

The selection will ensure representation across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones in line with the provisions of the TETFund Act of 2011.

Echono said the initiative reflects the federal government’s commitment to strengthening research and innovation in emerging technological fields.

“We are not only addressing issues around national security, but we are also preparing future generations of our youthful population to contribute meaningfully to national development and to fill knowledge and skills gaps globally,” he said.

“We secured Mr President’s approval to establish at least six additional centres of excellence across the country. This is deliberate, as we aim to reflect all six geopolitical zones, while tapping into the abundant talents that exist in Nigeria.”

He added that the centres will be hosted exclusively by public universities and equipped with modern facilities to support cutting-edge research, training and innovation.

The TETFund boss also directed that the first phase of the committee’s assignment be completed within 30 days, after which the panel will continue to guide the selected institutions in establishing and developing the centres.

Responding on behalf of the committee, Ochefu assured that the panel would adopt clear and merit-based criteria in recommending institutions for the initiative.

He said the committee would focus on identifying universities with proven capacity in robotics, coding, artificial intelligence, machine learning and cybersecurity, while ensuring equitable representation across the country’s geopolitical zones.

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