The focus on STEAM education is essential, but if these books are a) not digital and readily up-dateable, and b) do not embrace AI, how relevant will they be in ten, five or even one year’s time?
Nigeria’s Federal Government has unveiled 82 academic textbooks authored by domestic scholars, marking a significant push to bolster indigenous educational publishing and reduce dependence on foreign imports.
The initiative, launched under the TETFund Higher Education Book Development Intervention Project, aims to strengthen teaching and research capacity across the nation’s tertiary institutions.
Context and Scale
The project represents a milestone in Nigeria’s efforts to develop local academic publishing infrastructure. Education Minister Dr. Tunji Alausa presented the titles in Abuja, noting that 72 were newly commissioned while 10 additional works came from established scholars.
Over 400,000 physical copies will be distributed to universities, polytechnics, and colleges nationwide, accompanied by digital versions to enhance accessibility.
This intervention addresses a longstanding challenge: Nigerian institutions have historically relied heavily on foreign textbooks, draining foreign exchange reserves and limiting contextual relevance.
The programme specifically targets science, technology, and engineering disciplines deemed critical to national development.
Publishing Infrastructure Investment
Beyond individual titles, TETFund’s strategy encompasses establishing academic publishing centres within tertiary institutions and supporting professional association journals.
To date, the Fund has published 202 textbooks with further titles under evaluation – a substantial pipeline suggesting sustained commitment rather than one-off gesture.
The initiative aligns with broader sector reforms under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, though implementation stability remains crucial given Nigeria’s history of disrupted academic calendars.
Commercial Considerations
TETFund Board Chairman Aminu Bello Masari highlighted emerging questions around author compensation and rights management, specifically referencing commercialisation pathways to support contributors and their families. This signals potential evolution toward sustainable publishing models rather than purely subsidised distribution.
The programme notably honoured posthumous contributor Valerie Young Harry, underlining intellectual property legacy considerations within publicly funded academic publishing.
The View From The Beach
Two things came to mind as I read about this development.
First, the focus on STEAM education is essential, but if these books are a) not digital and readily up-dateable, and b) do not embrace AI, how relevant will they be in ten, five or even one year’s time?
Second, I’m a teacher in The Gambia where a) the handful of locally-written books are published abroad and imported back, and b) most private schools skip local content and import school text books… From Nigeria.
The quality is good, but the to us foreign names, places, currencies and culture reduce their impact.
This post first appeared in the TNPS LinkedIn newsfeed.
