India, Nigeria to Set Up New IIT Campus in Africa at Suleja

India and Nigeria plan to extend their educational partnership by setting up a new Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) campus in Africa, to be located at Suleja, Niger State, Nigeria. The proposed IIT campus in Nigeria is expected to become a regional centre for advanced education and research, innovation and technical growth across Africa.

First IIT Campus in Nigeria announced

The decision was announced during a courtesy visit by India’s High Commissioner to Nigeria, His Excellency Abhishek Singh, to Nigeria’s Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa (CON), at the Ministry’s headquarters in Abuja.

"Nigeria and India are deepening educational cooperation as plans advance for the establishment of the first Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) campus in Nigeria," the Federal Ministry of Education shared in a post on 'X' (earlier known as Twitter). "The proposed IIT Nigeria campus, to be hosted at the Federal Government Academy, Suleja, will advance science, technology, and innovation education."

"Both nations reaffirmed their shared commitment to making IIT Nigeria a global model of academic excellence, innovation, and partnership," the tweet said.

India-Nigeria Educational Ties

Dr. Alausa described the initiative as a landmark step in Nigeria–India cooperation and a key part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda on human capital development. He said the collaboration reflects the Federal Government’s commitment to world-class education and positioning Nigeria as a regional hub for technology and innovation.

“The IITs are not just universities; they are institutions of global excellence. This initiative will elevate the quality of technical and scientific education in Nigeria and stand as a powerful symbol of India-Nigeria friendship,” he said. The Minister praised India’s long-standing support through the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme, which has trained over 27,000 Nigerians, and the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) scholarships. He also acknowledged Indian educators’ historical impact on Nigeria’s education system, especially in STEM subjects.

High Commissioner Abhishek Singh reaffirmed India’s commitment to supporting the project, highlighting the success of the IIT Madras Zanzibar campus as a model for this collaboration. He explained that the IIT Nigeria initiative will follow a similar structure, with India providing academic expertise, curriculum, and faculty, while Nigeria contributes infrastructure and institutional support.