The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has concluded plans to establish six new Centres of Excellence with specialization in Robotics, Coding, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning and Cybersecurity in six universities across the geopolitical zones, thus raising the total number of TETFund-supported Centres of Excellence from 30 to 36. Speaking while inaugurating an Advisory Committee on the proposed Centres of Excellence at the Fund’s Headquarters in Abuja recently, the Executive Secretary of TETFund, Arc. Sonny Echono stated that committee was tasked with identifying TETFund Beneficiary Institutions that have demonstrable strengths and capacity in Robotics, Coding, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Cybersecurity studies. While revealing that the Fund had presidential approval for the establishment of at least six additional centres of excellence across the country, Arc. Echono stated that the initiative was of national significance as the intervention went beyond teaching and learning to addressing major development priorities of Nigeria. The Executive Secretary explained that the centres which would be domiciled specifically in public universities, would be equipped with state-of-the-art facilities to drive innovation and strengthen Nigeria’s technology drive. “We are not only addressing issues around national security; we are also preparing future generations of our youthful population to contribute meaningfully to national development and to fill global knowledge and skills gaps. “This is deliberate, as we aim to reflect all six geopolitical zones while tapping into the abundant talents that exist in Nigeria,” he said. Arc. Echono revealed that the committee has 30 days to complete the first phase of its assignment, while retaining an advisory role to guide selected institutions in establishment and development of the centres. The committee is chaired by Professor Yakubu Ochefu, immediate past Secretary-General of the Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities. In his response, the Chairman of the committee and immediate past Secretary-General of the Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities, Prof. Yakubu Ochefu expressed appreciation to TETFund for the opportunity to serve and assured that the committee would follow merit-based criteria in identifying qualified institutions