The Government of the Republic of the Gambia has announced plans to undertake a study tour of Nigeria’s foremost tertiary education intervention agency, the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), as part of efforts to strengthen higher education funding in the country.
The development came to light on Monday when the Gambia’s Minister of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology (MoHERST), Professor Pierre Gomez, led a high-powered delegation on a visit to the Executive Secretary of TETFund, Sonny Echono, at the Fund’s headquarters in Abuja.
Speaking during the visit, Professor Gomez said the purpose of the delegation’s visit was to inform the Executive Secretary about the establishment of the Gambia’s Tertiary and Higher Education Trust (THET) Fund, modelled after Nigeria’s TETFund, and to seek the Fund’s assistance and cooperation ahead of a planned study tour to Nigeria by officials of the THET Fund.
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According to a statement issued by the Director of Public Affairs, TETFund, Abdulmumin Oniyangi, the Minister said Gambian authorities had closely monitored the activities and achievements of TETFund through its website, social media platforms and other media channels over the years.
He noted that the success of the Nigerian model informed the decision to establish a similar agency to support higher institutions in The Gambia.
Professor Gomez emphasised the need for effective collaboration between both agencies, particularly in the areas of research and capacity development.
“It would further strengthen diplomatic ties between Nigeria and The Gambia, particularly as neighbours in the West African region,” he said.
Earlier, while welcoming the delegation, the Executive Secretary of TETFund, Arc. Sonny S.T. Echono, expressed appreciation to the Gambian Minister and his entourage for the visit.
He gave a brief account of the history of TETFund, noting that the agency had evolved significantly since its establishment as the Education Trust Fund (ETF).
Echono explained that the establishment of TETFund arose from the critical challenges that confronted Nigeria’s tertiary education sector more than three decades ago, prompting the Federal Government and other key stakeholders to develop an alternative source of funding for tertiary institutions.
He stated that until the introduction of the Development Levy by the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2026, TETFund’s major source of funding was the three per cent Education Tax on the assessable profits of companies registered in Nigeria, with only public tertiary institutions eligible as beneficiaries.
Highlighting some of the Fund’s achievements over the years, the Executive Secretary said TETFund’s interventions were designed to address critical needs within tertiary institutions.
“Which include essential physical infrastructure for teaching and learning, instructional materials and equipment, research and publication, academic staff training and development and any other area that is critical and essential for the improvement and maintenance of standards in the higher educational institutions,” Echono added.
Other members of the Gambian delegation included Ms Isatou Auber, Permanent Secretary, MoHERST; Dr Samba Sowe, Deputy Permanent Secretary (Technical), MoHERST; and Ms Ndey Anta Taal, Project Coordinator, CPCU, Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs.
