Students, academic and non-academic staff, managent of tertiary institutions as well as policy makers that include the National Assembly committees on TETFund, Ministry of Education, Civil Society Organizations, the media, and other stakeholders in tertiary education converged on Abuja on October 8th to review the activities of the TETFund and have an open discussion with its board of Trustees and management on ways to upacale its interventions and enhance service delivery.
The Chairman, Board of Trustees of TETFund, Rt. Hon. Aminu Bello Masari noted that since the inauguration of the current Board of Trustees by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, it has embraced a reform-driven agenda that aligns fully with the Renewed Hope agenda anchored on three pillars of transforming tertiary education into a driver of innovation and productivity, strengthening accountability, transparency, and impact measurement; and expanding the frontiers of research, technology, and entrepreneurship.
He sid the Fund has continued to bridge infrastructural gaps by constructing and equipping modern lecture theatres, laboratories, libraries, and ICT resource centres and other critical infrastructure in tertiary institutions across the country.
"The Fund has delivered student hostels using the public-private partnerships mode thereby reflecting our innovative approach to resource mobilisation and project delivery.
"A major thrust of Mr. President's Renewed Hope reform agenda is research and innovation; recognising that no nation can progress without investing in knowledge creation, the Fund has established Multi-Purpose Zonal Research Laboratories and Centres of Excellence across 48 tertiary institutions in Nigeria.
"These centres are key strategic areas such as biotechnology, renewable energy, food security, governance, and health sciences. These include Centre for Arid Zone Research and Development in University of Maiduguri; Centre for Dairy Research and Development Centre in Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi; Centre for Public Governance & Leadership in University of Abuja; Centre for Renewable Energy in Bayero University, Kano; and Centre for Root Crop Research & Development in Micheal Opara University of Agriculture to mention a few", Masari noted.
He said these facilities serve as regional hubs for cutting-edge research, innovation, and knowledge transfer, providing solutions to some of the nation's most pressing challenges and positioning Nigeria as a knowledge producer rather than a consumer.
The Chairman TETFund BoT said the agency has also sponsored 3,332 academic staffers of tertiary institutions for Masters Degree courses and 4,796 for PhD under the local component of the TETFund Scholarship for Academic Staff.
"Furthermore, the Fund continues to support teaching practice, conference attendance, research and development thereby ensuring that Nigerian tertiary institutions are well equipped with the right workforce of highly trained and globally exposed academics. This sustained investment in human capital is about nurturing a generation of innovators and thought leaders capable of transforming the nation's economy and society.
Masari pointed out that in sponsoring academic staffers of tertiary institutions for these courses, the agency's overriding goal is to ensure that its interventions translate directly into tangible improvements in the quality of teaching, learning, and research, while also making Nigerian graduates more competitive in the global knowledge economy.
Meanwhile, in the area power supply, TETFund is investing N70 billion this year on renewable energy accross twelve tertiary institutions spread across the six geopolitical zones of the country.
Masari noted that President Tinubu "is committed to solving the problem of erratic power supply which remains one of the most critical constraints to teaching, research, and innovation". He said to this end, the President approved the implementation of the Mini-Grid Solar Power Project under the 2025 Intervention Cycle, with an allocation of N70 billion.
"The project will provide renewable and sustainable energy solutions to twelve selected institutions across the country, in the first instance, these include Nigerian Army University, Biu, Borno State; Northwest University, Kano; Ambrose Alli University, Edo State; Alvan Ikoku University of Education, Owerri, Imo State; and Lagos State University amongst others.
In response to the need to strengthen our healthcare delivery system and expand admission quotas in medical programmes, the Honourable Minister of Education through the Fund initiated the Special High Impact Intervention to eighteen Medical Colleges across the six geopolitical zones; the deployment of medical simulation facilities in eight universities Strategically located across the six geopolitical zones.
"The Universities are Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State; University of Maiduguri, Borno State; Federal University of Health Science Azare, Bauchi State; University of llorin, Kwara State; University of Lagos, Lagos State; Federal University of Health Scicin. ia Orangun, Osun State; Nnamdi Azikiwe University Anambra State; and University of Benin Edo State.
"These facilities provide medical students with practical, hands-on clinical experience in controlled environments, enabling them to acquire critical competencies befote uiering real patients. This initiative will not only improve the quality of medical training but also reduce the dependence on foreign institutions for specialised medical education.
"In order to enhance teaching and learning in Colleges of Education across the six geo-political zones in the country, the Early Grade Resource Centers Intervention was provided starting with six institutions selected to benefit from the Year 2025 Early Grade Intervention and they include: Federal College of Education (Technical) Gusau, Zamfara State; Umar Suleiman College of Education Gashua, Yobe State; College of Education Katsina-Ala, Benue State; Federal College of Education (Special) Oyo, Oyo State; Federal College of Education (Technical) Umuze, Anambra State; and College of Education Warri, Delta State.
"The Board will sustain this policy in the coming years to reach other institutions which are: University of llorin, Kwara State; University of Maiduguri, Borno State; Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State; University of Nigeria, Nsukka; University of Benin, Edo State; and University of Ibadan, Oyo State amongst several others.
The Fund has equally prioritised the revitalisation of agriculture and food security through the establishment of demonstration farms in universities of agriculture and related institutions in
line with President Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda.
"These farms bridge the gap between classroom learning and practical application, empowering students and researchers to develop innovative solutions in crop production, mechanisation, and sustainable farming. The Fund has also provided commercial farm intervention to ten (10) other institutions to contribute directly to national food security and rural development, while fostering entrepreneurship among you ggraduates.
"Another visionary achievement under the leadership of Mr. President is the creation of Innovation Hubs and Entrepreneurship Centres in fifteen institutions nationwide. These centres established in institutions such as University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State; University of Ibadan, Oyo State; Federal University Dutse; and Taraba State Polytechnic, Jalingo; serve as incubators for ideas, technology transfer, and business start-ups. Through these hubs, we are equipping Nigerian students with the skills, creativity, and resilience needed to thrive in a rapidly changing global economy
The former Speaker House of Representatives and former Governor Katsina State assured stakeholders at the town hall meeting that the TETFund Board of Trustees remains committed to consolidating the gains of the past while expanding the frontiers of possibilities for the future. He said the Fund envisions Nigerian tertiary institutions that are globally competitive, research-oriented, and innovation-driven -- which can produce graduates who are not only employable but job creators and solution providers.
On his part, TETFund’s Executive Secretary, Arc. Sunday Echono, described the N70 billion solar initiative as part of a broader reform effort. He revealed that President Tinubu had mobilised over N200 billion in additional funding from alternative sources to complement TETFund’s investment, ensuring campuses nationwide operate on sustainable and independent power.
“Mr. President is personally committed to ending the power crisis in our tertiary institutions. When you talk about Band A or Band C, those categories no longer apply to us. We are building self-sustaining, energy-secure campuses for the future,” Echono said.
He commended Tinubu’s steadfast support for the education sector, noting that the president stopped attempts to reduce the education tax from 3 per cent to 2.5 percent — a move that safeguarded billions in annual revenue.
Echono added that the president had also approved major investments in student welfare, including the construction of 24 new Renewed Hope Hostels with 72 more expected next year.
He revealed that TETFund would roll out campus electric vehicle transport systems before the end of the year in partnership with student unions, to improve mobility and lower transport costs.
“President Tinubu believes students deserve to learn and live in dignity. He insists that no Nigerian child should be denied education because of poverty, that is why we now have one of the most robust National Student Loan Schemes in the world,” Echono said.
He also disclosed that the federal government is developing a framework to ensure students sponsored abroad on government scholarships return home to contribute to national development after their studies, noting that the move followed President Tinubu’s directive to TETFund to address the trend of non-return of beneficiaries after completing their studies overseas.
“Mr President complained that so many of the people we send abroad for studies do not return, and he felt it was unfair, he has therefore instructed that we must put measures in place, not to stop training abroad entirely, but to ensure that those who go are properly bonded and return to contribute their knowledge to national development.” He maintained that the policy aims to safeguard national investment in human capital.
In his speech, the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, commended the TETFund Board of Trustees for convening the town hall meeting which he said will avail stakeholders with an opportunity to appraise the interventions by the Fund in the country's tertiary education system and make valuable inputs with a view to enhancing service delivery.
He stressed that tertiary institutions that receive TETFund grants must utilize same prudently and for the purposes for which the funds were released, noting that the ministry has been faced with a dilemma over the issue of allocations that are not being put to good use. He regretted that some of the reports indictate while funds are being released by TETFund to the institutions, some of the institutions have not utilized the resources properly.
“Institutions must submit reconciled reports of all unutilised funds within 30 days, which will be jointly verified. Unused funds may be redirected to priority projects, and carrying them over without strong justification will no longer be allowed. Procurement plans must align with approved interventions, and approvals should be fast-tracked to prevent delays,” Alausa said.
The minister also announced that capacity-building programs would be introduced to strengthen project management, compliance, and reporting, alongside mentorship initiatives. Quarterly reviews will track progress and compliance, with sanctions for institutions that fail to utilise funds effectively.
"Transparency will be enhanced through a public dashboard showing disbursement and utilisation data, and institutions will be required to publish project progress reports. The Minister pointed out that the success of this initiative depends on strong collaboration among stakeholders.
“TETFund must enforce compliance and ensure transparency. Institutional heads should drive urgency and accountability, while bursars, procurement officers, and project coordinators must plan and report diligently. Auditors and oversight bodies are expected to monitor activities and flag irregularities. All stakeholders must uphold a sense of stewardship, recognising that every TETFund Naira represents public trust,” Alausa said.
This directive follows repeated complaints by TETFund itself over the significant amount of unused allocations by higher institutions in the country. It would be recalled that recently TETFund threatened to delist institutions that fail to access and utilise their allocations, emphasising that the funds would be diverted to institutions that are up to date with accessing and utilising disbursements.
In their separate remarks, the Chairman Senate Committee on TETFund, Senator Muntari Dandutse, and his House of Representatives counterpart, Hon. Miriam Onuoha, commended the President Tinubu for retaining the three percent tax deductions as education fund and the board and management of TETFund for running the fund efficiently a d transparently.
They assured stakeholders at the meeting of the National Assembly's commitment to the promotion of excellence in tertiary education in the country's through effective collaboration with TETFund and other relevant ministries, daperments and agencies.
Meanwhile, the Vice Chancellor of Federal University, Kashere, Prof. Umar Pate, delivered a lecture with the title 'Tertiary Education in Nigeria and Relevance of TETFund' where he advised the Fund to invest more in digital technology to enable tertiary institutions in Nigeria to compete globally.
In his presentation titled 'TETFund in the Eyes of the Public', a former Executive Secretary of the National Universities' Commission (NUC), Prof. Abubakar Rasheed, highlighted the investments by TETFund across the key areas of its intervention, describing the agency as the cornerstone of the growty and development of tertiary education in Nigeria. He urged the institutions that are enlisted by the Fund to make optimum use of the grants they access from the Fund.
