The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) has sponsored publication of 50 academic textbooks written by different Nigerian scholars on diverse subject matters, under its Higher Education Book Development Intervention Project.
Speaking Tuesday in Abuja, during the unveiling of the books, Minister of Education, Dr. Morufu Olatunji Alausa, said teaching and research depend on relevant instructional materials such as published books and journals, monographs, and other specialised reading materials as well as e-publishing of books and journals.
He said: “The paucity of indigenously authored and produced tertiary level textbooks and related academic publications in the nation’s tertiary education institutions is a known fact. Overtime, Nigeria’s tertiary education institutions became dependent on books published outside the country, with the attendant consequences of the pressure on the demand for foreign exchange.
“It is equally worrisome that the quality of most academic publications in our country leaves much to be desired. It is therefore expected that nurturing the culture of quality authorship and the production of indigenous books will not only ensure the availability of relevant books in the diverse subject areas that take cognizance of our local environment and sensitivities but will also safeguard national pride and reduce the demand for foreign exchange.
“Scarcity of tertiary level texts in Nigeria has reached a crisis proportion as evident not only in the quality of books available but also in the quantity of books produced locally. The need to tackle this crisis head-on resulted in the establishment of TETFund Higher Education Book Development Project.
“In order to ensure successful implementation of the Higher Education Book Development Project, the Board of Trustees of TETFund in the year 2009, set up the Technical Advisory Group (TAG) whose mandate included collaboratively working with the Fund in fine tuning the Book Development Blue Print Document into Strategic Working Document that clearly spells out the administrative procedures, frameworks and guidelines for effective TETFund Higher Education Book Development Intervention Funds in Tertiary Education Institutions in the country and reviewing the document(s) whenever the need arises.
“TETFund Book Development Fund intervenes in the three key areas of publication of academic books and the conversion of high-quality theses into books, support for Professional Association Journals; and establishment and sustainability of Academic Publishing Centres (APCs).
“Teaching and research depend on relevant instructional materials such as published books and journals, monographs, and other specialized reading materials as well as e-publishing of books and journals. The Government is giving more attention to publication through TETFund in a bid to provide adequate indigenous learning materials in our Tertiary Educational Institutions for national development and improve the global ranking of Nigeria’s Tertiary Institutions.
“I want to reiterate that the administration of Mr. President recognized the place of education as the main driver of national growth, hence the commitment in funding and policy reprioritisation towards content development and capacity building of the staff of our Public Tertiary Education Institutions.
“It is my hope that the presentation of these books which will herald subsequent presentations under the Higher Education Book Development Intervention will attain the desired objective of bridging the gap of indigenous authorship and book publications in Nigeria.”
Speaking earlier, the Executive Secretary of TETFUND, Arc. Sonny S. T. Echono, said lack of sufficient, high-quality tertiary-level textbooks prompted the establishment of the TETFund Higher Education Book Development Project, “a bold and visionary initiative aimed at addressing this significant gap.”
He said: “The lack of sufficient, high-quality tertiary-level textbooks has reached a critical point in Nigeria. The shortage is not only seen in the limited quantity of books available, but also in the quality of what is produced locally. This crisis prompted the establishment of the TETFund Higher Education Book Development Project, a bold and visionary initiative aimed at addressing this significant gap.
“To ensure that this initiative was effectively implemented, the Board of Trustees of TETFund took a crucial step in 2009 by setting up the Technical Advisory Group (TAG). Members of TAG consist of academic experts drawned from the six-geopolitical zones, representatives of academic unions (ASUU, ASUP and COAESU) as well as the representatives of three Regulatory Bodies (NUC, NBTE and NCC).
“TAG was tasked with refining the Book Development Blueprint, transforming it into a strategic working document that would guide the Fund’s interventions in the area of Book Development, Journal Publication and academic publishing. Their efforts resulted in the establishment of clear procedures, frameworks, and guidelines to govern the distribution of TETFund’s Higher Education Book Development Intervention Funds.
“The impact of these interventions cannot be overstated. So far, One Hundred and Thirty (130) manuscripts have successfully passed through rigorous review processes and been published as textbooks, with more manuscripts currently under review.
“For the records, the successes recorded initially were quite negligible, as only fourteen (14) books were published in 2014, and none thereafter. Following the reconstitution of the Technical Advisory Group Committee upon my assumption of duty as Executive Secretary in 2022, tremendous achievements were made which include production and public presentation of eighty (80) titles of TETFund Sponsored-Books in various subjects for tertiary educational institutions.
“The TAG Committee was reconstituted in June 2024, and based on the fresh target set, a total of ninety-seven (97) manuscripts were reviewed, scrutinized and recommended for publication. Out of these, fifty (50) manuscripts have been published and are now here with us for public presentations. Another sixty (60) books are scheduled for unveiling before the end of 2025. It is important to also note that, in our efforts to ensure value for money, Authors will now receive monetary compensation based on the number of pages in their books instead of the one thousand (1000) copies of their books being given to them.
“At this juncture, I must acknowledge the unwavering support from the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Morufu Olatunji Alausa. The administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR) has shown a deep commitment to the advancement of education, recognizing its fundamental role in driving national growth. This commitment is reflected in the prioritization of funding and policy reforms aimed at enhancing content development and building the capacity of our public tertiary education institutions.”
On his part, Chairman, Board Trustees of TETFUND, Rt. Hon Aminu Bello Masari, who was represented by Rt. Hon. Sunday Adepoju, said that one of the primary objectives of the Higher Education Book Development Project, among others, is to reduce overreliance on foreign reading and learning material for public tertiary institutions.
He said: “Over the years, TETFund has become a veritable source of assured funds for desired interventions at the tertiary level of education in the country. This was made possible due to the commitment of President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR) in ensuring that the education sector is always given top priority under his Administration.
“I’m glad to report that the Fund has consistently been discharging its obligations to its beneficiaries and stakeholders with integrity, transparency and in total compliance with the extant rules and regulations issued from time to time by the Federal Government. It is in recognition of this fact that most of the stakeholders have adjudged TETFund programmes and activities as the most robust and imaginative intervention. It is the first of its kind in the history of our country.
“Let me seize this opportunity to inform you that in our effort to better the package of our intervention programmes to achieve desired results for improving teaching, learning and research, the Board of Trustees has introduced more admissible projects particularly in the area of medical simulation, anthology/blackboard and provision of alternative source of energy.
“One of the primary objectives of the Higher Education Book Development Project among others was to reduce overreliance on foreign reading and learning material for public tertiary institutions.
“The education system of a country is very strategic and germane for overall development of any nation, hence, should be given top priority over other sectors. In view of this, I wish to assure you that TETFund will continue to deliver responsive intervention programs and will be at the forefront in promoting creative and innovative approaches to educational learning and championing new literacy enhancing areas.
“I would like to once more inform you on behalf of the Board of Trustees that the Fund shall continue to improve on the quality-of-service delivery.”
Also, Professor Albert Abegunde, Chairman, Technical Advisory Group for TETFund on Academic Book Publication and Professional Journal Funding, said that education spurs reading, enlightens minds with right knowledge, produces great and wise leaders, makes the world worth living and shapes the destiny of a nation.