ABUJA, FCT – In a major move to domesticate knowledge and save foreign exchange, the Federal Government has officially presented 82 academic textbooks authored by Nigerian scholars for use in tertiary institutions.
The collection, which includes 72 core textbooks and 10 specialised titles, was unveiled on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, by the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa.
The books were developed under the Higher Education Book Development Intervention Project of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), marking a significant milestone in the government’s quest to promote indigenous authorship.
Minister Alausa emphasised that the over-reliance on foreign textbooks has not only placed immense pressure on Nigeria’s foreign exchange but has also stifled the growth of local intellectual talent.
“As we strive to transform our education sector, we profoundly recognise the critical importance of academic textbooks in the tertiary education ecosystem,” the Minister stated.
He noted that the initiative is specifically designed to support science, technology, and engineering fields he described as the “critical engines” of national development.
The Executive Secretary of TETFund, Sonny Echono, provided a historical perspective on the project, noting that after a period of stagnation between 2014 and 2022, the initiative was refocused and abrased to meet modern academic demands.
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To ensure these resources reach the end-users, TETFund will commence the distribution of 400,000 physical copies to beneficiary institutions across Nigeria.
Furthermore, Echono revealed that digital versions of the textbooks would be uploaded to TETFund’s online platforms.
This hybrid approach is intended to provide students and researchers with flexible, low-cost access to high-quality Nigerian content that reflects local realities and cultural aspirations.
Prof. Albert Abegunde, Chairman of the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC), highlighted that the peer-review process ensured the books meet global academic standards.
By promoting locally produced content, the project aims to foster an education system that is not only globally competitive but also contextually relevant to the Nigerian environment.
The Minister concluded by acknowledging the support of President Bola Tinubu, affirming that these reforms are essential for “securing the intellectual history of our nation.”