The Federal Government has disbursed N38.93 billion to 166 public tertiary institutions to upgrade infrastructure and improve teaching and learning facilities, with universities accounting for N28.5 billion or 73.2 per cent of the total funding.
The intervention, under the Needs Assessment Revitalisation Fund, covers 79 universities, 46 polytechnics and 41 colleges of education, according to the Federal Ministry of Finance.
Universities received the largest share at N28.5 billion, while polytechnics received N5.76 billion and colleges of education got N4.67 billion.
Several federal universities, including the University of Ibadan, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, University of Benin, Bayero University, Kano, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, received N864.05 million each.
Another category of universities, including the Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Yola, and Federal University of Technology, Minna, received N758.44 million each.
Some state-owned universities, including Ekiti State University, Benue State University, Kaduna State University and Lagos State University, received N261.39 million each.
Among the polytechnics, Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti, Yaba College of Technology, Auchi Polytechnic and Federal Polytechnic, Nekede, received N241.02 million each. Federal Polytechnic, Ede, Federal Polytechnic, Damaturu, Federal Polytechnic, Idah and Waziri Umaru Polytechnic received N192.82 million each.
For colleges of education, the Federal College of Education, Yola, Federal College of Education, Katsina, Federal College of Education (Technical), Gombe, and Federal College of Education (Special), Oyo, received N238.03 million each.
The Nigerian Army School of Education, Ilorin, received N188.90 million, while allocations to several state-owned colleges of education ranged from about N33.92 million to N56.17 million.
Head of Media at the Federal Ministry of Finance, Efe Ovuakporie, said in a statement issued on Sunday night that the funding would enable beneficiary institutions to commence or advance approved projects addressing critical infrastructure gaps and other identified needs.
The ministry said the intervention forms part of the Federal Government’s efforts to address the needs of public universities and implement agreed measures under its Memorandum of Understanding with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
It added that the broader objective was to strengthen tertiary education through improved facilities and institutional capacity.
