The Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Mr. Sonny Echono, has reaffirmed the global relevance of Nigeria’s education system, saying its graduates are holding their own on the world stage and contributing meaningfully to the global labour market.
Speaking over the weekend at the Vanguard Newspaper Personality of the Year Awards, where he received the Education Icon Award, Echono emphasized that Nigeria is steadily emerging as a global hub for highly sought-after skilled labour.
“Despite numerous challenges, our education system continues to produce graduates who are globally competitive,” he said. “We’re seeing more young Nigerians securing roles in multinational companies while working remotely from home. This is proof that Nigeria is becoming a centre for marketable, skilled professionals.”
Echono commended President Bola Tinubu’s administration for implementing progressive policies in the education sector and reiterated TETFund’s commitment to its mandate of enhancing the quality of tertiary education across the country.
“Our youthful population is an asset,” he noted. “While many developed countries are grappling with aging populations and declining birth rates, Nigeria has a vibrant, young demographic ready to meet global demands. That’s why investment in education is more crucial than ever.”
Highlighting TETFund’s efforts, Echono revealed that over 40,000 individuals have benefitted from postgraduate training both within and outside Nigeria. He added that the Fund is heavily investing in infrastructure upgrades across campuses to match the standards of institutions abroad.
“To prevent inflation from affecting the cost of ongoing projects, we’ve intensified our project monitoring efforts and are ensuring swift completion. The transformation across our tertiary institutions is visible, and we are proud of that impact.”
Addressing concerns about the growing number of public tertiary institutions in the country, Echono explained that increased education tax revenue and prudent resource management have enabled the Fund to keep pace with expanding responsibilities.
“As more institutions are established, we are also receiving more support. What matters most is how efficiently we manage these resources, and we remain committed to accountability and results.”
He dedicated his award to President Tinubu, the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, as well as the staff and management of TETFund, adding that the recognition would further motivate the team to raise the bar.
Echono concluded by assuring stakeholders that TETFund will continue to deliver transformative projects across tertiary institutions and called on institutional leaders to work collaboratively for smooth and successful execution.
