The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) will, in November, roll out a new electric shuttle transport scheme in selected tertiary institutions to tackle the mobility challenges faced by students across the country.
The Executive Secretary of TETFund, Arc. Sonny Echono revealed this on Tuesday in Abuja during a courtesy visit by a delegation from the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), led by its National Secretary, Comrade Shedrack Anzaku.
According to Echono, the initiative, set to debut in 12 pilot campuses—forms part of President Bola Tinubu’s directive to enhance student welfare and improve learning environments through innovative and inclusive measures.
“Students currently face many risks and spend so much time moving around campuses, especially those who live off-campus. From next month, we will be launching electric student shuttle services in selected institutions. The vehicles will be managed by students themselves to ensure accountability and sustainability,” Echono said.
He explained that each participating institution will have charging stations for the electric vehicles, adding that the rides will be offered at minimal cost to guarantee affordability.
Echono noted that the scheme is part of a broader intervention aimed at addressing accommodation shortages, power supply, and infrastructure deficits in higher institutions.
“The president challenged us to improve the conditions under which our students study, from hostels and classrooms to how they commute. We are massively investing in student hostels across 72 institutions and will begin commissioning more projects from December,” he said.
The TETFund boss further disclosed that the agency is expanding its investments in research laboratories, digital learning systems, and sustainable power solutions to raise the standard of higher education and make it more competitive globally.
“We are building multi-purpose research laboratories across universities, in Kano, Port Harcourt, Lagos, and Abuja, so that Nigerian researchers can conduct world-class research without having to send samples abroad,” he added.
On student welfare, Echono reaffirmed the government’s resolve to ensure that every Nigerian child, regardless of background, has access to quality education through the National Student Loan Scheme managed by NELFund.
“We are institutionalising funding to make sure every willing Nigerian child gets the opportunity to learn and succeed,” he said, adding that the fund is being refocused to serve the interests of Nigerian students.
In his remarks, NANS National Secretary Shedrack Anzaku praised TETFund for its ongoing transformation of campuses nationwide, noting that the Fund’s interventions have significantly boosted infrastructure and learning facilities.
“Without TETFund, many of the structures we see today in our institutions would not exist. We commend Arc. Echono for his visionary leadership and for prioritising the welfare of Nigerian students,” Anzaku said.
He added that the student body had passed a vote of confidence on Echono, describing him as “a father and mentor” who maintains constructive engagement with student leaders to foster peace and progress in the education sector.
Similarly, NANS North-Central Coordinator Husseini Ebu applauded the agency’s visible impact across institutions and urged it to sustain its developmental efforts.
“We have seen your signature across our institutions. The structures you have built have redefined the learning environment. We urge you to continue so that the children of the poor can remain on campus and learn in dignity,” he said.
The visiting delegation also presented Echono with an award of excellence in recognition of his contribution to educational development and student welfare in Nigeria, alongside a vote of confidence in the TETFund management.