The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) recently convened a meeting in Abuja with heads of beneficiary institutions and other key stakeholders to discuss and finalize the 2025 Intervention Guidelines.
The Forum was a testament to TETFund’s commitment to collaborative policy-making and ensuring that its initiatives align with the needs of its beneficiary institutions.
The meeting aimed to establish a harmonious working relationship between TETFund and its stakeholders. This goes a long way to foster an environment, where efforts can be aligned to reposition the Fund for optimal performance including empowerment of the country’s human capital and addressing the urgent need for capable, skilled professionals across all sectors.
TETFund’s Executive Secretary, Arc. Sonny Echono, emphasizing the significance of the engagement, highlighted the Fund’s purpose and its role in actualizing the mandate of beneficiary institutions.
Echono also discussed the increase in Education Tax (EDT) collection for 2024, attributing this success to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s approval of the EDT increase from 2.5per cent to 3.0per cent in 2023.
The engagement, Echono stated, was designed to cultivate a collaborative and synergistic partnership with key stakeholders, and to create a conducive environment where collective efforts could be synchronized to revitalize the Fund’s operations and unlock its full potential.
By fostering such harmonious working relationship, TETFund aims to effectively empower the nation’s human capital, bridging the gap between academia and industry, and addressing the pressing need for professionals.
Ultimately, the strategic engagement sought to reposition TETFund as a pivotal driver of Nigeria’s development agenda, leveraging its interventions to stimulate innovation, entrepreneurship and economic growth and by so doing, enhancing the overall quality and relevance of the country’s tertiary education system.
He said: “As heads of TETFund beneficiary institutions, you play a pivotal role in actualizing the mandate of the Fund. It is crucial that we engage constructively to set a clear course for the Fund’s direction and operational priorities.
“TETFund’s purpose is to empower our nation’s human capital, addressing the urgent need for capable, skilled professionals across all sectors. Established in response to the deficits in our tertiary education sector, TETFund began as the Education Tax Fund in 1993, transitioning in 2011 to its current form with a commitment to enhancing the quality of Nigeria’s public tertiary institutions through Education Tax contributions.
“The increase last year in the Education Tax from 2.5per cent to 3 per cent, authorized by the Commander-in-Chief, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, represents a significant stride for TETFund. This change reinforces the government’s dedication to strengthening Nigeria’s educational framework.
“We urge all stakeholders to actively engage in building these partnerships. Let us explore innovative ways to connect our institutions with industry leaders, fostering a symbiotic relationship that benefits both our students and the economy”.
Speaking on the successes recorded in the outgoing year, the Executive Secretary stated that the Fund made deliberate efforts to deepen the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) roadmap, using the Tertiary Education, Research, Applications and Services (TERAS) platform designed to allow staff and students access to educational materials.
It also created Career Service Centre intervention aimed at providing information for students on opportunities and trends in the job market, requisite skills as well as linkages with the employment industries, including the alumni of the institutions among other intervention success stories.
The Executive Secretary reiterated the Fund’s commitment to Research,Development and innovations for increased productivity and wealth creation in the nation.
The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Dr. Nasir Gwarzo, described the meeting as a crucial form of dialogue, reflection and partnership that “seeks stakeholders’ collective support to strengthen Nigerian tertiary institutions and ensure that it meets the important demands of the nation.”
Represented by the Director of Special Duties at the Ministry, ZubairuAbdullahi, the Permanent Secretary noted that the role of TETFund over the years has facilitated improved infrastructure, enhance research capabilities and expanded opportunities across Nigerian tertiary educational institutions.
Gwarzo therefore urged the institutions to ensure that the impact of the investments was maximized for the growth and sustainability of quality education in Nigeria.
Also at the forum was the Chairman, Board of Trustees of TETFund, Rt. Hon. Aminu Bello Masari.He stressed the importance of separating politics from the education calendar to foster national development.
He expressed dissatisfaction with the erroneous perception by some beneficiary institutions and stakeholders thatTETFund’s role goes beyondintervention agency but that which should shoulder all the responsibilities of tertiary education sector in the country. He therefore charged institutions to come up with proposals at various levels on how education could be funded sustainably.
The Board of Trustees Chairman cautioned state governments against establishing institutions without adequate funding, highlighting the need for a more thoughtful and sustainable approach to education.
Masari’s emphasis on decoupling politics from education echoed the sentiments of stakeholders such as Senator MuntariDandutse, who chairs the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFund. The federal lawmaker underscored the committee’s commitment to ensuring efficient and transparent utilization of TETFund’s resources.
“The intervention agency plays a vital role in supporting Nigeria’s tertiary institutions and its interventions have been crucial in advancing education, research, and infrastructural development”, he said.
Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation and Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr. Yayale Ahmed, who was also part of the gathering, emphasized the significance of education to national development, describing it as a vital component of every constitution globally.
According to him, funding of education is a shared responsibility among all tiers of government. As the Chairman of the Committee of Pro-Chancellors, he stressed that education should be a top priority for the National Assembly, which ought to ensure timely funding and effective utilization.
Ahmed’s call to action underscored the importance of collaborative governance in advancing Nigeria’s education sector. By emphasizing the need for transparency in the Fund’s dealings, he highlighted the importance of accountability in ensuring that resources allocated to education are utilized efficiently and effectively.
To achieve this, the elder statesman urged the National Assembly to make education a priority, recognizing that a well-funded and effectively managed education system is crucial for the country’s development. This sentiment is echoed in the Legislative Agenda of the 10th House of Representatives, which identified education as a key priority area.
Others who spoke at the meeting include the immediate past Acting Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC), Chris Maiyaki, President, Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASSU), Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke and his counterpart from the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), Comrade KpanjaShamma, among others.
In another development, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, commended TETFund for its pivotal role in funding public tertiary education, even as he solicited additional support for some Air Force institutions in the country.
The Air Force chief gave the commendation when he led senior Air Force officers on a courtesy visit to the Executive Secretary of TETFund, Arc. Sonny Echono in Abuja recently.
Air Marshal Abubakar noted with appreciation,TETFund’s support for Air Force institutions in the country, particularly the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT), Kaduna, where research projects, physical infrastructure, ICT, human capacity development among others have been funded.
Noting that the Air Force globally is usually the most advanced arm of the military in terms of technology, innovation and development, he stated that there was constant need for support in consolidating efforts of the Nigerian Air Force in properly educating and upskilling its personnel.
He revealed that the Air Force has 12 institutions that are accessible to the public, which reflects its commitment to fostering growth and development in the country through education.
“We established these institutions to significantly and professionally contribute to the landscape. We have sustained quality over the years. Our institutions are comparable to any institution in the world. However, the room that is never full is the room for improvement. There is more we can do and we want to passionately advocate for the adoption of some of our institutions that are not currently captured by TETFund in its interventions.
“We want you to come to our aid to attain higher level. Partnerships like these are crucial, where Education and Defense partner for a greater Nigeria”, he said.
Responding, Arc. Echono expressed appreciation to the Nigerian Air Force for its role in keeping schools and the country safe. He also expressed appreciation for the Air Force’s participation in the recently concludedTETFund National Research Fair and Exhibition.
We saw many great things done by the Air Force and it is no surprise, most of the leading innovations and technology shaping the world today emanated from the military. Globally, military leads innovation and we are proud of what the Nigerian Air Force is doing”, Echono stated.
On the request for support to other Air Force Institutions apart from AFIT, the TETFund boss explained that the debate at the National Assembly to determine whether it should capture Monotechnics and similar institutions, or completely refocus and reengineer its activities could be the determinant factor for enlistment of the institutions.
He however stated that if other institutions under NAF could go multidisciplinary as the ones currently funded by TETFund, and obtain necessary regulatory approvals, they could be captured. He clarified that the Fund is currently limited to public universities, Polytechnics and Colleges of Education.
