…invites private institutions to join TERAS in bold push for unified, tech-driven tertiary system

By Joseph Erunke, Abuja

In a decisive move to deepen Nigeria’s digital education revolution, the federal government has invited eligible private universities, polytechnics and colleges of education to plug into the Tertiary Education Research and Application Service ,TERAS, a national digital platform designed to transform teaching, learning, research and institutional management.

The call, made by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, signals a major expansion of TERAS,previously exclusive to public tertiary institutions,into the private education space, marking a new era of public–private collaboration in Nigeria’s higher education sector.

Dr. Alausa said the move reflects the government’s resolve to build a resilient, inclusive and globally competitive tertiary education ecosystem, stressing that sustainable progress in education can only be achieved through shared responsibility between government and private stakeholders.

“Education reform cannot succeed in silos,” the minister noted, describing the inclusion of private institutions as a strategic step to strengthen and safeguard the nation’s education architecture in the digital age.

Implemented in partnership with the Tertiary Education Trust Fund ,TETFund, TERAS serves as a unified national digital infrastructure, offering structured onboarding, reliable connectivity, cost efficiency, standardised quality assurance and data-driven tools to boost institutional performance.

According to the minister, extending these premium digital services to eligible private institutions will not only enhance teaching and research outcomes, but also ensure that Nigerian tertiary institutions remain competitive on the global stage.

He explained that collective participation in TERAS would improve collaboration across the sector, increase bargaining power for digital services and fast-track the development of a shared digital future for higher education in Nigeria.

Dr. Alausa therefore urged 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, describing inclusivity as the cornerstone of sustainable educational advancement.

He reaffirmed that the initiative aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s education agenda, which prioritises access to quality and inclusive education while positioning Nigeria’s tertiary institutions for global relevance in learning, research and innovation to drive national development.