From Fred Ezeh, Abuja
Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has warned institutions and their management against mismanaging funds meant for different interventions.
Executive Secretary of TETFund, Sonny Echono, gave the warning at a one-day strategic engagement with heads of institutions, bursars, and heads of procurement of the Fund’s beneficiary institutions in Abuja on Monday.
He said that TETFund recently observed that a particular institution in the south east has been operating with only 30 students for the last four years, and has been collecting all necessary allocations for that four years.
He stated that the Fund has decided that beneficiary institutions that fail to meet performance benchmarks or mismanage allocated funds risk being delisted from its support programmes.
Echono said: “We will allocate the fund to institutions that are using it effectively. The policy is not meant to punish, but rather to safeguard the credibility and impact of TETFund interventions.
“Let me be clear, institutions that consistently fail to access, utilize or retire funds appropriately, or that fall short of enrollment and academic performance thresholds, risk being delisted as TETFund beneficiary institutions.”
Echono further said this year’s intervention budget prioritised consolidation, sustainability, and the completion of abandoned projects. “This engagement is not merely a meeting but a strategic convergence.
“It was designed to address recurring issues of concern, streamline project implementation and enhance the overall quality of tertiary education delivery in our nation.
“We stand at a critical juncture where collective action, transparent processes and responsible governance can determine the future trajectory of our higher education institutions. Let me begin by focusing on one of the central interventions supported by the Fund, the Academic Staff Training and Development (AST&D) intervention.
“As you all are aware, we made the difficult decision to suspend the foreign component of the TETFund Scholarship for Academic Staff (TSAS) due to the rising costs of training abroad, coupled with the increasing rates of scholar abscondment. Effective from January 1, 2025, we officially suspended this foreign scholarship component.
“This decision was not made lightly but it is in recognition of the need for a more sustainable and cost-effective approach to training and developing our academic staff. However, despite this suspension, we remain committed to enhancing the skills and capacity of our academic staff.
“The Fund continues to place emphasis on locally driven academic development programs and professional development, ensuring that our scholars can continue to receive top-tier training, albeit within a more manageable cost framework.
“Research remains a cornerstone of our developmental mission. In 2025, the Fund has significantly bolstered allocations to the National Research Fund, the Research and Innovation Fund, and the Research for Industry (Triple Helix) model. This engagement is a call to action. It is a platform to learn, reflect and commit to best practices in governance, project management and compliance.
“We must use this opportunity to engage in constructive dialogue, identify areas for improvement and renew our collective commitment to the transformation of Nigeria’s tertiary education system. As we move forward, let us approach the discussions with openness, collaboration, and a shared vision to elevate our institutions and the students we serve. Together, we can strengthen accountability, drive innovation, and ensure that the legacy of TETFund remains impactful, equitable and enduring for generations to come,” he added.
Dr. Joshua Atah, who represented the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Abdullahi Ribadu, conveyed greetings from the Commission, and praised TETFund for organising the stakeholders’ engagement.
He emphasised the importance of such meetings for evaluating the implementation and impact of Trust Fund-supported projects in higher education institutions.
The NUC also appreciated the Fund’s vital role in improving infrastructure, research, staff development, and academic quality, stating that without its support, public education would struggle to survive.