The Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Sonny Echono, says the Fund is implementing strategic reforms to reposition Nigeria’s tertiary institutions for global competitiveness and national development. He said this includes investing in digital infrastructure, alternative energy, and medical education to address brain drain and medical tourism.
Echono clarified that he never advocated for tuition in federal universities but warned it could become inevitable without sustained government funding. He also addressed concerns over ₦500 billion in unclaimed TETFund project funds, explaining that delays were primarily due to poor contractor performance and inadequate project milestone structures.
The TETFund boss stated that the agency has committed up to ₦75 billion this year alone to provide alternative energy solutions, aiming to alleviate the burden of rising electricity costs in schools. On legislative scrutiny, Echono said, while oversight is welcome, distractions from unrelated committees remain a challenge.
He also highlighted the launch of the TERAS and BIMS platforms to digitise education and improve efficiency. The goal, he said, is to strengthen university rankings and make Nigeria attractive once again to international students, replicating the country’s academic reputation of the 1960s.
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