The Federal Government has approved N2 billion each as take-off grants for the newly established Bola Ahmed Tinubu Federal Polytechnic in Abuja and the Federal University of Science and Technology, Epe, to support their initial operations.
Education Minister Dr. Tunji Alausa disclosed this on Thursday during the inauguration of key officials appointed to lead the institutions, according to Arise News.
Among those inaugurated were Prof. Nosiru Onibon, the pioneer Rector of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Federal Polytechnic, Abuja; Prof. Adeola Oshikoya, Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Science and Technology, Epe; and Dr. Angela Ajala, Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE).
Presenting the letters of appointment in Abuja, Alausa said the new institutions were part of the government’s strategy to expand access to higher education and strengthen Nigeria’s capacity in science, technology, and innovation.
“Every child in this country deserves access to the highest quality education comparable to global standards. The appointees were carefully selected based on their achievements across Nigeria’s educational institutions,” he said, urging them to provide strong leadership that would shape the identity and long-term development of the schools.
The minister explained that the N2 billion grants for each institution would support the establishment of administrative and academic structures necessary for their early operations. He added that the polytechnic in Abuja and the university in Epe are strategically located to leverage the economic potential and human resources in their regions.
Alausa also highlighted that the institutions are expected to focus on technological innovation, renewable energy, climate change response, disaster risk management, and other research areas vital to national development. He congratulated Dr. Ajala on her appointment as NCCE Executive Secretary, stressing the critical role of teacher education in improving Nigeria’s education system.
The minister affirmed that the administration of President Bola Tinubu is committed to building a stronger education system capable of producing skilled manpower to drive national growth.
