By Stella Odueme
The Federal Government has urged Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Desk Officers in federal tertiary institutions to develop bankable projects that will attract private-sector investment while protecting the interests of students and other beneficiaries.
The Director Overseeing the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Dr Folake David, gave the charge at the Annual PPP Forum for Desk Officers in Federal Tertiary Institutions, held from November 4 to 5, 2026, at the Public Service Institute of Nigeria, Abuja.
According to a statement by the Director of Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade, on Thursday, David emphasised that public interest, affordability and improved learning outcomes must remain central to education-sector partnerships, noting that the success of such arrangements should be measured by their social benefits rather than profit maximisation.
The forum, organised by the Federal Ministry of Education in collaboration with the Nigerian Institute of Infrastructure and Public-Private Partnership (NIIP), focused on bridging the gap between policy, investment and sustainable implementation.
She explained that despite the existence of government policies and private-sector interest in the education sector, translating investment opportunities into sustainable projects remained a major challenge.
According to her, the increasing demand for laboratories, student hostels, workshops, theatres, high-capacity centres and other essential facilities makes it necessary for tertiary institutions to explore alternative funding arrangements.
She said Public-Private Partnerships could provide the capital, technical expertise, innovation and management capacity required to complement government funding.
David urged the officers to assume more strategic responsibilities by identifying investment opportunities, preparing bankable proposals, attracting credible investors and safeguarding public interest.
She added that the forum should produce concrete investment opportunities and sustainable projects rather than end with resolutions.
Speaking on behalf of the Director-General of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), Dr Jobson Oseodion Ewalefoh, Mr Akwu Okolo disclosed that the commission had reduced the processing period for PPP project reviews and certification from about 60 days to seven days.
He also said the commission had issued 13 PPP guidelines to support the implementation of presidentially approved project approval thresholds.
Okolo encouraged participants to identify investment opportunities suited to tertiary institutions, stressing that social infrastructure remained a critical government responsibility even when projects were not financially self-sustaining.
Earlier, the Director of Special Duties Department in the Ministry, Mr Murtala Alhaji Tanko, described the forum as an avenue for strengthening institutional capacity and converting government policies into viable investment projects.
He identified inadequate infrastructure, overcrowded classrooms, insufficient teaching facilities and limited access to modern technology as some of the challenges affecting tertiary education.
Tanko called on participants to develop actionable recommendations, establish clear implementation responsibilities and strengthen project preparation, regulatory compliance and stakeholder engagement.
Also speaking, the Deputy Director, Colleges of Education Department, Mrs Vivian Oluwatobi Luke, who represented the Director, Dr Uchenna Uba, said PPPs could facilitate the modernisation of lecture halls, hostels, laboratories, workshops, ICT facilities and renewable energy infrastructure.
She stressed the need for transparency, accountability, proper project preparation and effective monitoring to ensure sustainable improvements in teaching and learning.
Similarly, the Director of Polytechnic Education and Allied Institutions Department, Mrs Igwe Amy, called for stronger private-sector participation in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).
She said industry partnerships were essential to improving technical education and skills acquisition, urging PPP Desk Officers to develop transparent and mutually beneficial investment proposals.
The Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to promoting value-driven partnerships under the leadership of the Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, and the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Sa'id Ahmad, in support of ongoing reforms and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda.