Minister of Education Tunji Alausa has announced that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved a ₦250 billion intervention fund for the construction of student hostels across tertiary institutions in Nigeria.
Alausa disclosed this during the inauguration of governing boards, principal officers, and chief executives of agencies under the Federal Ministry of Education.
According to him, the initiative is aimed at addressing the acute accommodation shortage in universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education across the country.
He explained that the ₦250 billion allocation will support the construction of hostels in at least 50 tertiary institutions nationwide, with each institution expected to receive about ₦2 billion for the development of at least 500-bed spaces.
In addition, the minister disclosed that another ₦90 billion will be deployed through Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangements to develop hostel facilities in 24 federal institutions, each expected to provide between 1,200 and 1,500 bed spaces.
Alausa added that the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) will provide ₦1 billion counterpart funding per institution, while private sector investors are expected to contribute about ₦4 billion under the PPP model.
He said the intervention reflects the administration’s commitment to strengthening human capital development and repositioning education as a key driver of national transformation.
The minister noted that the education sector has received the highest budgetary allocation in the country for two consecutive years, describing it as evidence of the government’s reform-driven agenda.
He said the hostel development programme is a direct response to persistent accommodation challenges in institutions such as the University of Lagos and Yaba College of Technology.
Alausa also charged newly inaugurated board members to ensure transparency, accountability, and improved performance in all education agencies.
He further announced additional investments, including ₦130 billion for engineering and technology workshops, as well as ₦120 billion for the upgrading of medical schools nationwide.
