The Federal Government of Nigeria has launched an initiative to connect all tertiary institutions to high-speed broadband via the Nigerian Research and Education Network by 2026. Education Minister Dr Tunji Alausa announced this during a meeting in Abuja, alongside new procurement guidelines to boost transparency and efficiency. The reforms aim to address key barriers like inconsistent internet access in the education sector.
On Tuesday in Abuja, Minister of Education Dr Tunji Alausa addressed a joint meeting with the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), heads of federal tertiary institutions, bursars, procurement directors, and heads of education agencies. He outlined the government's plan to overhaul procurement processes and ensure full broadband connectivity across tertiary institutions by 2026 through the Nigerian Research and Education Network (NG-REN).
Alausa described the initiatives as part of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda for Education, aimed at enhancing transparency, efficiency, and digital accessibility. He emphasized ending uncoordinated procurement and inconsistent internet connectivity. “We cannot continue to operate in silos or allow wasteful spending when technology can bring efficiency, transparency, and connectivity to our institutions,” Alausa said. From 2026, every federal tertiary institution will subscribe to NG-REN using coordinated funding via the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), with no institution left behind.
A new Procurement Guideline for Tertiary Institutions, developed by the Ministry of Education, BPP, and Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), sets approval thresholds: procurements up to N10 billion at the institutional level, and above by the Ministerial Project Approval Board. “For the first time, we now have a single procurement document tailored to the peculiarities of the education sector,” Alausa explained.
The minister highlighted power and internet as major barriers to learning and research, reaffirming efforts to strengthen NG-REN for interconnecting universities, polytechnics, colleges, and research institutions. “The NG-REN is not just about providing internet. It is about linking all our institutions together to share knowledge, research data, and innovation seamlessly,” he stated. Integration with the Tertiary Education Research and Applications System (T-ERAS) will automate TETFund processes, allowing mobile access for tracking projects and enhancing accountability.
Alausa directed TETFund and NG-REN to include private institutions and collaborate with the Ministry of Communications, World Bank, and National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) to expand fiber-optic infrastructure. “The government is providing an end-to-end digital backbone for our education sector. Institutions without fiber connectivity should liaise with the relevant agencies immediately,” he instructed. These reforms seek to modernize Nigeria’s education system and support national growth.