The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has disclosed a substantial N198 billion intervention plan dedicated to bolstering institutions within Nigeria’s higher education sector for the year 2023. This allocation, representing 62 percent of the government-approved N320 billion fund, underscores a commitment to advancing the quality and capabilities of public tertiary institutions.
Abdulmumin Oniyangi, Acting Director of Public Affairs at TETFund, clarified that the intervention is exclusively designated for public tertiary institutions. Private institutions are excluded from TETFund’s intervention lines as per the Act establishing the Fund.
In a document available on TETFund’s website, Oniyangi emphasized the multifaceted nature of TETFund’s interventions, encompassing research and infrastructure development. He highlighted the significance of equipping institutions to foster effective research endeavors, stating, “Research is part of our intervention lines, we do content as well and not just infrastructure.”
Moreover, Oniyangi emphasized the importance of research in higher education, including support for lecturers pursuing advanced degrees and various research initiatives such as Institution Based Research (IBS) and the National Research Fund (NRF). At the 2023 TETFund Strategic Planning Workshop in Abuja, Mr. Sonny Echono, the Executive Secretary of TETFund, distributed allocation letters to heads of beneficiary institutions. These allocations, falling under the “Annual Direct Disbursement” category, aim to assist tertiary institutions without discrimination based on size or requirements.
Echono outlined the breakdown of the allocated funds, earmarking N30 billion for High Impact Projects across selected institutions in Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones. This allocation, under the Special High Impact Intervention, includes substantial sums directed towards universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education in specific zones. The initiative signifies TETFund’s strategic approach to fostering holistic growth and development across diverse higher education institutions in the country.
