TETFund, Campus France seal pact to strengthen bilateral ties

The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has set a new standard in the relationship between Nigeria and France with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with Campus France.

This time, the collaboration is in the areas of joint research and promotion of innovation, training of qualified Nigerian academics in French higher educational institutions, scholars and students exchanges as well as support for French language immersion programme.

The agreement was signed on behalf of the Fund recently in Paris by the Executive Secretary, TETFund, Arc. Sonny Echono, when he attended an event tagged, “Nigeria Days in France.”

The event was organised by the French Embassy and Campus France with the intention of strengthening the bilateral relationship between Nigeria and France in the fields of higher education and research with the full support of French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs.

The agreement signing exercise was in the presence of Nigerian Ambassador to France, Kayode Laro and the France Ambassador to Nigeria, Emmanuelle Blatmann.

Campus France will help facilitate the placement of TETFund scholars in specialised institutions in France at very low tuition; particularly in the areas of Science, Technology and Engineering, which are germane to the technological and economic development of Nigeria.

The programme will also expose scholars to world-class facilities, encourage collaboration between French and Nigerian scholars in carrying out cutting-edge research and innovation while providing opportunities for students and staff exchange.

The Forum had representatives of 29 French Tertiary Institutions and seven Vice Chancellors of leading universities in Nigeria, and it expected to explore avenues for linkages, partnerships and integration of Nigerian and French cultures considering the fact that Nigeria is bordered mainly by francophone countries.

Speaking during the signing of the agreement, the ever-resilient and committed Arc. Echono was impressed at another major feat towards boosting capital development for today and future Nigeria.

Drawing from the success recorded in similar partnerships between Campus France and the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF), Echono was optimistic about the positive outcome of the partnership.

This is even of the high global ranking of participating institutions and the cost advantage when compared with similar institutions in the United Kingdom and United States of America.

Campus France is a public institution in France responsible for promoting higher education and implementing international mobility programmes.

“It operates under the supervision of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and that of Higher Education and Research in France and maintains close relations with the world of higher education and research through the Campus France Forum which has close to 370 universities and other institutions as members.

Other Nigerian agencies and participants at the “Nigeria Days in France” event include the National Universities Commission (NUC), PTDF, Nigerian Mission to UNESCO, Nigeria French Language Village and Vice-Chancellors, University of Ibadan, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife; University of Lagos, Bayero University, Kano; University of Jos, Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike and Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka.