Kano among first beneficiaries of TETFund zonal laboratories

The Tertiary Education Trust Fund has announced that four of the six proposed multi-purpose zonal laboratories being developed across Nigeria will become operational before 2027 as part of efforts to strengthen research, innovation and technological development in tertiary institutions.

The Executive Secretary of TETFund, Sonny Echono, disclosed this in Abuja while receiving the report of the Advisory Committee on the Equipping of TETFund Multipurpose Zonal Laboratories.

The committee, chaired by former acting Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission, Chris Maiyaki, was inaugurated in February 2026 to advise TETFund on equipment requirements for the laboratories located across the country’s six geopolitical zones.

Speaking during the presentation, Echono said the idea of establishing the regional laboratories had existed for more than a decade but suffered delays after the government at the time prioritised the establishment of new universities over the proposed research facilities.

According to him, recent advances in science, technology and healthcare have made the need for world-class laboratories more urgent, especially as Nigeria seeks to strengthen industrial growth and research capacity.

“The flagship of these efforts is these multi-purpose laboratories. They will wipe away our sense of shame and restore our national pride,” he said.

Echono explained that the projects were being implemented in phases due to funding limitations, adding that Bayero University Kano was among the first institutions ready to receive equipment installations before August this year.

He added that three other laboratories were expected to reach completion stages by February next year, bringing the number of operational centres to four before 2027.

The TETFund boss stated that the agency deliberately decided to synchronise equipment procurement with the completion of the buildings to avoid commissioning empty structures.

“We thought it wise rather than wait and commission empty buildings, it was good to synchronise also the equipment phase so we will start the equipment procurement and installation from Kano, which is ready to receive them,” he said.

Echono also disclosed that members of the advisory committee would remain involved in the implementation process to ensure that supplied equipment met approved standards and specifications.

According to him, some committee members may also participate in pre-shipment inspections before delivery of the equipment.

Earlier, Maiyaki said the committee reviewed previous policy documents and visited the six host institutions to assess the level of work completed at each site.

The institutions selected for the project include Bayero University Kano, Yakubu Gowon University, University of Lagos, University of Maiduguri, University of Nigeria Enugu Campus and University of Port Harcourt.

Maiyaki noted that the level of construction varied significantly across the institutions, with Bayero University Kano recording the highest level of completion at about 80 per cent.

He warned that installing sophisticated laboratory equipment in unfinished buildings could expose the facilities to damage.

“The committee believes strongly that the equipment procurement and installation must be synchronised with the readiness of the buildings,” he said.

He added that the laboratories would boost postgraduate studies, research output, technological innovation and scientific development in the country.

According to him, the committee also developed a multidisciplinary equipment list covering engineering, physical sciences, life sciences, computing, information technology and other specialised laboratory systems.