ABUJA, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)-The Federal Government has unveiled 72 academic textbooks and 10 additional titles written by Nigerian scholars to strengthen teaching and learning in tertiary institutions across the country.
The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, disclosed this during the public presentation of the books in Abuja on Wednesday.
Alausa explained that the textbooks were produced under the Higher Education Book Development Intervention Project of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund.
According to the minister, the initiative reflects the Federal Government’s commitment to improving the quality of education and promoting academic excellence within Nigeria’s higher education system.
He noted that the intervention is intended to address the shortage of locally authored textbooks and reduce the country’s reliance on foreign publications.
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“As we strive to transform our education sector, we profoundly recognise the critical importance of academic textbooks in tertiary education ecosystem,” he said.
Alausa said Nigerian tertiary institutions have increasingly depended on foreign textbooks, a situation that places pressure on foreign exchange and discourages local authorship.
He added that encouraging Nigerian scholars to produce high-quality academic textbooks would ensure the availability of relevant learning materials across different fields of study.
The minister stated that the initiative would particularly support disciplines such as science, technology and engineering, which are essential for national development.
Alausa further explained that the TETFund Book Development Intervention focuses on the publication of academic textbooks, support for professional association journals, and the establishment of academic publishing centres.
He commended the authors, publishers and other stakeholders involved in the project for their contributions toward strengthening Nigeria’s academic reputation globally.
The minister also acknowledged the support of President Bola Tinubu for reforms aimed at improving the education sector.
Alausa expressed optimism that the textbooks would help close the gap in indigenous academic publishing and improve access to relevant learning materials in tertiary institutions.
The Executive Secretary of Tertiary Education Trust Fund, Sonny Echono, said the fund’s Board of Trustees established a Technical Advisory Committee in 2009 to ensure the effective implementation of the project.
He explained that the book development intervention was designed to promote credible, locally authored academic resources and address gaps in the availability of such materials.
Echono noted that the committee ensured academic standards and implemented a credible peer review process for manuscripts submitted under the programme.
He said the project initially recorded limited progress, with only 20 textbooks published in 2014 and none afterward.
According to him, the evaluation process was reviewed after he assumed office in 2022, leading to renewed progress in the programme.
“From the onset, there was no significant progress as only 20 textbooks were published in 2014 and none thereafter.
“Upon my assumption of office in 2022, the manuscript’s evaluation process was abrased and refocused, while the new cohort of the Technical Advisory Committee was reconstituted with a two-year tenure.
“The strategy employed led to the publication, a public presentation of 60 titles of TETFund’s sponsored books in various subjects.
“10 titles were presented to the public on the Aug. 23, 2022, while another 50 titles were presented on Jan. 5, 2023.
“The committee was subsequently reconstituted again in 2024, and based on the fresh targets set, 50 additional TETFund sponsored books were published and presented to the public on March 25, 2025.
“Altogether, with this presentation of 82 books, the fund has so far published 202 academic textbook titles, while several others are currently undergoing evaluation,” he said.
The executive secretary added that the fund would begin distributing 400,000 copies of the books to beneficiary institutions across the country.
He also revealed that digital versions of the textbooks would be uploaded on TETFund platforms to improve access for students and researchers.
The Chairman of the Technical Advisory Committee on Academic Book Publication and Professional Journal, Albert Abegunde, said the publications cover various disciplines including medicine and pharmacy, arts and literature.
Other areas, he said, include law, engineering and technology, agriculture, environmental studies, economics, management sciences and research methodology, among others.
He explained that the initiative aims to reduce dependence on foreign academic materials and promote locally produced content that reflects Nigeria’s realities and aspirations.