The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has reaffirmed its commitment to modernising Nigeria’s higher education system, strengthening research capacity and preparing graduates with globally competitive skills.
This was the focus of the 2025 TETFund Board of Trustees Town Hall Meeting held in Lagos.
Speaking at the event, the Executive Secretary of TETFund, Sunday Echono, stressed the need for a complete transformation of Nigeria’s tertiary education curriculum to align with the demands of a rapidly evolving global workforce.
He said; “the country must produce graduates with the right skills to drive economic growth, create jobs, and fully utilise Nigeria’s demographic advantage.”
“Our aim is to produce the right number of high-quality graduates who can support the national economy, harness our natural resources, and expand employment opportunities. We must prepare young Nigerians to become critical thinkers, problem solvers and innovators capable of creating wealth and filling global skills gaps.” Echono said.
He noted that TETFund is intensifying investments in digital learning tools, modern teaching infrastructure and entrepreneurship training.
He also emphasised that Nigeria must shift its focus from shortcuts to wealth and instead embrace productivity, efficiency and innovation in sectors such as agriculture, healthcare and manufacturing.
As the current Education Tax regime ends in December, he disclosed that a new development levy framework will begin in January 2026, expressing hope that ongoing advocacy will attract additional funding for the education sector.
“Education must remain the nation’s most important tool for societal transformation,” he said.
In his welcome address, the Chairman of the TETFund Board of Trustees, Aminu Bello Masari said the Lagos Town Hall Meeting, the second in the 2025 series—reflects the Fund’s commitment to accountability and broad stakeholder engagement in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Masari highlighted TETFund’s evolution from a primarily infrastructure-focused agency to one that balances physical development with research, innovation, digitalisation and entrepreneurial skills.
“TETFund is not just about building structures, it is about raising academic quality, strengthening capacity and positioning Nigeria’s tertiary institutions to compete globally, such as the training of thousands of lecturers through TETFund-sponsored Master’s and PhD programmes; the expansion of TETFAIR, which has produced more than 200 innovation prototypes; the strengthening of the Research for Impact (R4i) initiative, benefiting 939 researchers; and the establishment of Multidisciplinary Research Laboratories and Centres of Excellence across all zones,” he stated.
Other interventions include, launch of the Nigerian Education Data Initiative (NEDI) for evidence-based policymaking, investment in Innovation and entrepreneurship hubs, upgrading of 18 Colleges of Medicine and the establishment of eight Medical Simulation Centres. a ₦70 billion commitment to sustainable mini-grid energy solutions for campuses and roll-out of the TERAS digital platform to enhance accountability, streamline workflows and strengthen e-learning.
Masari also restated the Fund’s allocation formula, noting that 91% of available funds are channelled directly to beneficiary institutions through direct disbursements and special interventions.
He urged institutions, communities and other stakeholders to adopt a stronger maintenance culture, reiterating that sustainability requires shared responsibility.
Other stakeholders including, Senator Muntari Dandutse, traditional ruler Kayode Afolabi, and other participants emphasised the urgent need for tertiary institutions to embrace innovation and compete with global standards.
Traditional ruler Kayode Afolabi, re-emphasized that education remains the lifeline of national development and called for sustained funding for TETFund.
According to him amidst other stakeholders, Nigeria needs a purposeful leadership approach that prioritises meaningful development through robust support for education, research and enterprise.
They encouraged Nigerians to collaborate with government efforts and contribute actively to national progress.
Olusola Akintonde