FG deepens digital education reform, calls on private tertiary institutions to join TERAS

The Federal Government has reiterated 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.

In a statement signed by Boriowo Folasade, Director of Press and Public Relations, Maruf Olatunji Alausa, Minister of Education, said the invitation forms part of ongoing efforts to strengthen and safeguard Nigeria’s education ecosystem through strategic public–private collaboration.

He emphasised that sustainable progress in education requires collective responsibility and inclusive partnerships between government and private sector stakeholders.

Alausa explained that the expansion of TERAS, implemented in collaboration with the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), represents a major milestone in the country’s digital education reform agenda.

While the platform has traditionally served public universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education, eligible private institutions are now being encouraged to formally partner with TETFund and access 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.

He noted that these features are critical to improving institutional performance and ensuring that Nigerian tertiary institutions remain competitive at both local and global levels.

He added that the inclusion of private tertiary institutions aligns with the Federal Government’s broader vision of building a unified, inclusive, and resilient higher education ecosystem that reflects global best practices.

Collective engagement through TERAS, he said, would strengthen collaboration across the sector, enhance bargaining power, and accelerate the development of a shared digital future for tertiary education in Nigeria.

Alausa therefore called on interested private universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education to formally express their interest and engage with TETFund through the Committee of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities, stressing that inclusivity and collaboration remain central to achieving sustainable educational advancement.

The Ministry of Education reaffirmed that the initiative is in line with the education agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, which prioritises access to quality and inclusive education while positioning Nigeria’s tertiary institutions for global relevance in learning, research, and innovation in support of national development.