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Arc. Sonny Echono, the Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), has been honored with the African Leadership Excellence Award in Education Development by the African Leadership Magazine. This award highlights Echono’s significant contributions to advancing education and entrepreneurship across the continent.
The award ceremony was part of the 9th African Leadership Magazine Summit, held in London from July 17 to 18, 2024. The summit, themed “Africa Unleashed: Navigating disruptions, enhancing opportunities,” gathered policymakers, business leaders, diplomats, and thought leaders to discuss sustainable socio-economic development in Africa.
Under Echono’s leadership, TETFund has significantly enhanced Nigeria’s tertiary education sector. Key achievements include increased investments in quality education and skills development, aimed at creating a globally competitive workforce. These initiatives focus on curriculum reforms that promote creativity, critical thinking, and entrepreneurial skills, bridging the gap between education systems and societal needs. This approach has raised academic standards and empowered students to become job creators rather than job seekers.
TETFund has launched several innovative programs under Echono’s guidance. The “Research for Impact” (R4i) program has supported over 600 lecturers, resulting in the development of 95 prototypes for commercialization. The TETFund Alliance for Innovative Research (TETFAIR) has trained 44 teams of 176 researchers, producing prototypes such as an affordable, self-programmable hearing aid for the African market. Additionally, TETFund is establishing regional multi-purpose research laboratories, innovation hubs, and entrepreneurship centers in tertiary institutions to drive groundbreaking research and technological advancements.
Echono has also championed the use of ICT to increase access to education, supporting hybrid models of online and face-to-face learning. Recent acknowledgments by the House of Representatives Committee on Tertiary Education Trust Fund highlight significant transformations in TETFund’s Intervention Programme from 2021 to 2023, aligning with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s eight-point agenda. Noteworthy accomplishments include the allocation of N17 billion to research and development, sponsorship of a COVID-19 vaccine now in clinical stages, and the equipping of teaching hospitals with modern equipment to reduce medical tourism.
Arc. Sonny Echono’s visionary leadership and relentless pursuit of excellence have justly earned him the African Leadership Excellence Award in Education Development. His contributions are paving the way for sustainable development and global prominence for Africa, driven by education and entrepreneurial innovation.
