As part of its 2025 strategic intervention, the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has launched the process to select ten Nigerian universities that will pioneer mechanised commercial agriculture and livestock production projects. This move marks a major push to integrate advanced agricultural technologies into the country’s tertiary education system and foster national food security.

During the official inauguration of a five-member Evaluation Committee in Abuja on Monday, TETFund Board Chairman Aminu Bello Masari announced that the chosen universities must meet specific criteria to qualify. These include:

• Being a university of agriculture or having a strong, operational Faculty of Agriculture
• Possessing at least 50 hectares of unencumbered land
• Running an existing commercial farm linked to at least one agricultural value chain

Masari explained that this initiative will be the first phase of a long-term program designed to boost agricultural productivity and stimulate innovation in Nigeria’s higher institutions.

“Agriculture is central to our nation’s development—it offers food security, job creation, poverty reduction, and long-term economic stability,” Masari stated.

Driving Change Through Innovation and Research

Masari stressed the importance of harnessing modern agricultural innovations, including automation, precision farming, and data analytics, which have transformed food systems in developed economies. According to him, if these tools are effectively integrated into Nigeria’s agricultural sector, the results could be transformative.

He highlighted that eight of TETFund’s 27 Centres of Excellence are agriculture-focused, and that six universities are currently benefiting from TETFund-funded agricultural laboratories and demonstration farms designed to advance crop and livestock development.

Masari added,

“Before the oil boom, agriculture was Nigeria’s mainstay. It still contributes significantly to our GDP. Revitalizing the sector through education, innovation, and commercial practice is key to reducing food importation and increasing farmer income.”

Composition and Mandate of the Evaluation Committee

The newly inaugurated Evaluation Committee is chaired by Mr. Ewara E. Bassey, Director of the Federal Department of Agriculture in the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security. Other members include representatives from:

• The Ministry of Education
• The Ministry of Livestock Development
• The National Universities Commission (NUC)
• The Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria
• TETFund’s Research & Development and Centres of Excellence Department (serving as Secretariat)

The committee has been tasked with reviewing institutional submissions, developing evaluation templates, scoring applicants, and recommending one qualified institution from each geopolitical zone.

Masari issued the committee a two-week deadline to complete the review and submit their final recommendations. He praised the members for responding on short notice and described the assignment as a “national priority.”

A National Call to Action

Responding on behalf of the committee, Mr. Bassey expressed gratitude and reaffirmed the team’s commitment to transparency, professionalism, and timely delivery.

“This is a call to national service, and we intend to deliver results that reflect the vision and impact expected from this initiative,” he affirmed.

This ambitious TETFund programme is expected to catalyze a new era of agribusiness education, ensuring Nigerian students gain real-time exposure to commercial-scale agriculture while contributing directly to national food systems and innovation.