Mahmoud Alfa Backs Stronger Research and Skills Development at TETFund Town Hall
Dr. Mahmoud Bala Alfa, attended the 2026 Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) North-Central Zonal Town Hall Meeting held on Thursday at the Banquet Hall, Government House, Lokoja, Kogi State.
The town hall, organised by TETFund, brought together government officials, education stakeholders, institutional leaders and other members of the public to discuss the future of tertiary education and how higher institutions can contribute more directly to the development of the North-Central region.
The meeting was attended by the Governor of Kogi State, His Excellency Ahmed Usman Ododo; the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris; the Chairman of the TETFund Board of Trustees, Rt. Hon. Aminu Bello Masari; former Governor of Kogi State, Captain Idris Wada; and the representative of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Prof. Babatunde Bernard, among other dignitaries.
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The discussions focused largely on the need for universities, polytechnics and colleges of education to move beyond the provision of buildings and place greater attention on research, skills, innovation and practical solutions to the challenges facing society.
Dr. Alfa welcomed the focus of the meeting, stressing that education must remain at the centre of efforts to develop the human capacity needed to drive the economy of the North-Central region.
He said tertiary institutions should not only prepare young people to obtain certificates but should also equip them with the knowledge and skills needed to create businesses, find employment, conduct useful research and solve problems in their communities.
According to him, the North-Central region has enormous opportunities in agriculture, solid minerals, manufacturing, technology, energy and other sectors. He said higher institutions should be closely connected to these opportunities so that research and education can contribute directly to economic growth.
The Federal Government, through TETFund, has approved approximately ₦2.53 billion for each public university, ₦1.87 billion for each polytechnic and ₦2.06 billion for each college of education under the 2026 intervention programme.
Dr. Alfa said the scale of the investment made it important for stakeholders to ensure that the funds produce clear and lasting results.
He noted that the success of investment in education should not only be measured by the number of buildings constructed. It should also be seen in the quality of graduates produced, the research carried out, the problems solved and the opportunities created for young people.
He also called for stronger partnerships between government, tertiary institutions, private businesses and researchers.
He said such partnerships would help institutions better understand the needs of the economy and develop programmes that prepare young Nigerians for the changing world of work.
Dr. Alfa also stressed the importance of digital skills, technical education, entrepreneurship and research, particularly as new technologies continue to change the nature of employment.
He said the North-Central has the people and resources needed to become a stronger centre for agriculture, mining, manufacturing and technology, adding that education must play a central role in turning these opportunities into jobs and sustainable economic growth.
He commended TETFund for creating a platform where stakeholders could discuss the challenges facing tertiary education and contribute ideas towards improving the sector.
He expressed the hope that the recommendations from the town hall would lead to practical steps that would strengthen tertiary institutions and create better opportunities for young people across the North-Central region.
(DEMOCRACY NEWSLINE NEWSPAPER 21ST AUGUST, 2026)
