The Federal Government has launched 50 textbooks written by Nigerian academics to address the shortage of high-quality academic materials in the country’s tertiary institutions.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Alausa, unveiled the books on Tuesday at a public presentation held at the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) headquarters in Abuja. The initiative, sponsored by TETFund under its Higher Education Book Development Intervention Project, aims to reduce Nigeria’s reliance on foreign academic materials in universities and colleges.
Speaking at the event, Alausa criticized the country’s heavy dependence on foreign textbooks, noting that it not only strains foreign exchange reserves but also weakens the local academic publishing industry. He stressed the importance of fostering indigenous authorship to ensure the availability of relevant educational materials while strengthening Nigeria’s academic and cultural identity.
“The scarcity of quality tertiary-level textbooks in Nigeria has reached a critical level, both in quantity and content,” he stated. “This initiative by TETFund is a strategic response to that crisis, ensuring that teaching and research in our institutions are backed by relevant, homegrown instructional materials.”
Reaffirming the Tinubu administration’s commitment to education as a key driver of national development, Alausa noted that TETFund is ramping up efforts to enhance content development and capacity building in public tertiary institutions.
The Executive Secretary of TETFund, Arc. Sonny Echono, also emphasized the urgency of addressing the shortage of quality academic books, which led to the creation of the Higher Education Book Development Project.
Echono revealed that over 130 manuscripts had undergone rigorous review and publication, with 50 new titles now ready for public use. “Following the reconstitution of the Technical Advisory Group (TAG) in 2024, 97 manuscripts were reviewed, out of which 50 have been published. Another 60 titles are scheduled for unveiling by the end of 2025,” he added.
He further disclosed a new payment structure for authors, stating that financial compensation will now be based on the number of pages in their books, replacing the previous system that provided them with 1,000 copies.
The TAG Chairman, Prof. Albert Abegunde, highlighted the broader impact of the newly published books, noting that they will not only enhance literacy but also preserve cultural heritage, support technological advancement, encourage entrepreneurship, and foster research and innovation.
Abegunde detailed the subject distribution of the books, which cover medicine, law, engineering, agriculture, economics, education, and security studies.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of TETFund’s Board of Trustees, Alhaji Aminu Bello Masari, reaffirmed President Bola Tinubu’s dedication to prioritizing education. He commended TETFund’s transparency and strict adherence to government regulations in executing its mandate.
With more manuscripts under review and additional books set for release, this initiative represents a significant step toward strengthening Nigeria’s tertiary education sector through the development of locally produced academic resources.
