The Federal Government has urged private universities, polytechnics and colleges of education to formally express interest in joining the Tertiary Education Research and Application Service (TERAS) platform as part of ongoing efforts to accelerate digital transformation in Nigeria’s higher education sector.
The call was made by the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa, who said the initiative is aimed at expanding access to modern digital tools that enhance teaching, learning, research, innovation and institutional efficiency across tertiary institutions.
Dr. Alausa explained that TERAS, which is implemented in collaboration with the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), represents a major milestone in the government’s digital education reform agenda. He noted that while the platform has traditionally served public universities, polytechnics and colleges of education, eligible private institutions are now being invited to partner with TETFund and benefit from the same premium digital services available at a national scale.
According to the minister, the move underscores the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s education ecosystem through strategic public–private collaboration, stressing that sustainable development in the sector requires shared responsibility and inclusive partnerships.
He described TERAS as a unified national digital infrastructure that provides structured onboarding, reliable connectivity services, cost efficiency, standardised quality assurance mechanisms and data-driven decision-making tools. Dr. Alausa said these features are critical to improving institutional performance and ensuring that Nigerian tertiary institutions remain competitive both locally and globally.
The minister added that the inclusion of private tertiary institutions aligns with the government’s broader vision of building a unified, inclusive and resilient higher education system that reflects global best practices. He said collective participation through TERAS would also strengthen collaboration among institutions, enhance bargaining power and accelerate the development of a shared digital future for tertiary education in Nigeria.
Dr. Alausa therefore encouraged interested private universities, polytechnics and colleges of education to formally indicate their interest and engage with TETFund through the Committee of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities.
The Ministry of Education reaffirmed that the initiative is in line with the education agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which prioritises access to quality and inclusive education and seeks to position Nigeria’s tertiary institutions for global relevance in learning, research and innovation in support of national development.
