Nigeria Targets Global Artificial Intelligence Leadership Through New TETFund Technology Research Centres

TETFund establishes an advisory committee to create six tech centres of excellence, aiming to boost Nigeria’s AI workforce and startup ecosystem.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 24, 2026, 5:18 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Guardian Nigeria

Strategic Infrastructure for a Digital Future

The Tertiary Education Trust Fund has launched a transformative initiative to embed advanced technology research directly within the Nigerian university system. By proposing the establishment of specialized centers for robotics, coding, and cybersecurity, the agency aims to move beyond theoretical instruction toward practical, lab based innovation. This move is designed to address a persistent constraint where the country’s significant human talent has lacked the necessary physical infrastructure to compete in the global digital economy.

Addressing the Artificial Intelligence Labor Shortage

Current industry data highlights a significant structural deficit in Nigeria’s high level digital workforce. While the country currently boasts roughly 50,000 workers in the artificial intelligence sector and produces 2,500 graduates in the field annually, these numbers fall far short of the requirements for a burgeoning tech ecosystem. These new centers are expected to act as the primary engines for producing the researchers, engineers, and innovators needed to support over 3,000 existing startups that currently rely heavily on foreign technical expertise.

Mandate for Geographic and Academic Inclusion

The Executive Secretary of TETFund, Sonny Echono, has mandated that these centers be distributed across the six geopolitical zones of the country to ensure equitable access to advanced training. An advisory committee, led by Professor Yakubu Ochefu, is tasked with identifying public universities that demonstrate existing strengths in machine learning and deep tech. This committee has 30 days to establish merit based criteria and recommend the initial six host institutions, ensuring that the project aligns with the statutory requirements of the TETFund Act.