Beneficiary institutions of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) in the South-South geopolitical zone have called on the intervention agency to increase funding for curriculum development aimed at bridging the gap between academic theory and practical industry skills.
​The recommendation was made during a zonal stakeholders’ engagement organized by TETFund on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, at the Hotel Presidential in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The forum brought together Vice-Chancellors, Rectors, Provosts, and key academic directors from federal and state-owned tertiary institutions across the six South-South states: Rivers, Delta, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, and Edo.
​Speaking on behalf of the beneficiary institutions, Prof. Ebitimitula Nicholas Etebu, former Vice-Chancellor of Bayelsa Medical University and spokesperson for the South-South Academic Leadership Forum, emphasized that Nigeria’s tertiary education sector must evolve rapidly to keep pace with technological advancements.
​”For Nigeria to achieve meaningful technological development, our curricula must reflect contemporary industry realities,” Prof. Etebu stated.
“We are appealing to TETFund to allocate targeted funds specifically for continuous curriculum review and development. This will enable us to collaborate with industry leaders, integrate hands-on technical skills, and equip our graduates with market-ready competencies.”
​Also addressing the gathering, Dr. (Mrs.) Blessing Okon, Rector of the Federal Polytechnic, Ukana, noted that while TETFund’s interventions in physical infrastructure and research grants have yielded positive results, direct investments into skill-matching academic programs are urgently needed.
She highlighted that practical exposure to emerging field technologies, software design, and digital engineering must be embedded directly into institutional frameworks.
​Responding to the call, the Executive Secretary of TETFund, Arc. Sonny Echono, assured stakeholders that the agency remains committed to aligning its intervention guidelines with the current needs of the Nigerian economy.
Echono noted that TETFund is already expanding its ICT and innovation frameworks, including the recent rollout of regional ICT Experience Centers, and will review suggestions to create structured intervention lines dedicated specifically to industry-aligned curriculum enhancement and practical technology development.
