The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has issued a firm warning to beneficiary institutions, stating that those failing to meet performance standards or mismanaging allocated funds may be removed from its intervention programmes.
Speaking at a strategic engagement session in Abuja on Monday with heads of institutions, bursars, and procurement officers, the Executive Secretary of TETFund, Arc. Sonny Echono, clarified that the policy is not intended as punitive but aims to preserve the credibility and effectiveness of the Fund’s interventions.
“Institutions that consistently fail to access, utilise, or appropriately retire funds or that fall below minimum enrolment and academic performance benchmarks — risk being delisted from the list of TETFund beneficiaries,” Echono stated.
He stressed that TETFund is committed to supporting institutions that uphold high standards of governance, transparency, and accountability. The engagement, he said, was organised to address persistent challenges in tertiary education, enhance project delivery, and ultimately improve education quality across the country.
A major point of discussion was the Academic Staff Training and Development (AST&D) intervention. Due to rising costs and the increasing number of scholars who abscond during overseas training, TETFund has suspended the foreign component of its Scholarship for Academic Staff (TSAS) effective from 1 January 2025. Focus will now shift to locally based, cost-effective training programmes.
“This was a difficult decision, but necessary for a more sustainable and impactful approach to staff development. While the foreign scholarship has been halted, our commitment to upskilling academic staff remains strong through locally driven initiatives,” Echono explained.
He also revealed that the 2025 intervention budget prioritises consolidation, project sustainability, and the completion of previously abandoned initiatives. He urged institutions to embrace transparent processes and responsible project execution as part of collective efforts to advance higher education.
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On research funding, Echono reaffirmed TETFund’s dedication, noting that the Fund has significantly increased support to the National Research Fund, the Research and Innovation Fund, and the Research for Industry (Triple Helix) model in 2025.
“This is more than a meeting , it is a strategic call to action. We must seize this opportunity to strengthen governance practices, improve project implementation, and reaffirm our shared goal of transforming Nigeria’s tertiary education landscape,” he said.
Representing the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Professor Abdullahi Ribadu, Dr Joshua Atah lauded TETFund’s efforts, especially the stakeholder engagement, which he described as critical for assessing the implementation and impact of funded projects.
He acknowledged TETFund’s significant role in supporting infrastructure, research, staff training, and academic quality. Dr Atah also praised the Fund’s adaptability, particularly its decision to suspend international scholarships in favour of more impactful domestic investments.
He urged institutions to be more proactive and ensure that projects are well-designed, relevant, and efficiently implemented. He also called for timely and prudent use of resources and encouraged participants to engage in meaningful dialogue.
“This engagement is not only timely but necessary. Institutions must align with national education goals, utilise funds responsibly, and contribute to shaping a stronger, more resilient higher education system,” he concluded.
