TETFund’s giant strides: Advancing Tinubu’s vision for a renewed education sector

The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), has been at the forefront of driving educational reforms in Nigeria, playing a pivotal role in shaping the nation’s tertiary education landscape.

By focusing on improving infrastructure, funding research, enhancing academic development, and promoting innovation, TETFund is contributing to the realisation of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision of transforming Nigeria’s education system into one that meets global standards and prepares students for a dynamic future.

The Fund is spearheading numerous projects aimed at upgrading the educational status of Nigeria.

UDUS Leads The Charge In Medical Breakthroughs And Research:
Nigeria’s education sector witnessed a historic milestone when Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS) Teaching Hospital successfully performed its first kidney transplant at the TETFund Centre of Excellence in Urology and Nephrology.

Both the donor and recipient are reported to be in good health, marking a significant advancement in local medical capabilities.

UDUS’s achievements extend beyond surgery. In 2023, TETFund-supported researchers at the university (in collaboration with other research institutions) played a pivotal role in advancing the COVID-19 DNA vaccine candidate (SJN3T) Corvac, to pre-clinical trials, in addition to taking steps towards developing the first-ever Lassa Fever vaccine.

These breakthroughs, made possible through the Centre for Advanced Medical Research and Training (CAMRET), showcased TETFUND’s commitment to cutting-edge research.

Speaking at the transplant event, TETFund’s Director of Research and Development, Dr. Salisu Bakari, hailed UDUS as a leader among the 27 TETFund-sponsored
Centres of Excellence nationwide.

TETFund’s Expanding Impact Across Nigeria
While UDUS stands out, it is part of a much broader transformation driven by TETFund’s interventions in 262 public tertiary institutions, including 106 universities, 82 polytechnics, 74 Colleges of Education and the list keeps growing.

TETFund’s contributions extend beyond infrastructure to include research funding, staff training, digital education and rehabilitation of outdated facilities.

In recognition of these efforts, The New Telegraph Newspaper awarded TETFund the “Most Improved Government Agency of the Year 2024”, presented at a Lagos ceremony on February 21, 2025.

At the occasion, the newspaper noted that the award “reflects TETFund’s unwavering commitment to enhancing Nigeria’s tertiary education through strategic interventions, substantial funding and a focus on research and development.”

The paper noted that between 2011 and 2024, TETFund disbursed nearly N2 trillion to public tertiary institutions, reinforcing its role as a pillar of educational development in Nigeria.

Accepting the award, TETFund Executive Secretary, Sonny T. Echono, reaffirmed the Agency’s commitment to elevating Nigeria’s education landscape through strategic funding and innovation-driven reforms.

Tinubu’s Vision: Overhauling Nigeria’s Education System
At the core of this transformation is President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, the ThisDay Newspaper’s 2024 Man of the Year. Despite economic headwinds, the President remains resolute in his mission to revamp Nigeria’s education sector to meet global standards.

Even before assuming office in May 2023, Tinubu, who seemed to have for long been living the Tibetan creed which states “A child without education is like a bird without wings,” had been championing a skills-driven education model and emphasising hands-on training over rote learning. His administration has since taken significant steps to actualise this vision, including:

Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND)
Designed to provide accessible loans for students in universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, and people pursuing vocational education. Contrary to misconceptions, NELFUND caters to all Nigerians pursuing higher learning and skills acquisition. As of February 3, 2025, the fund had disbursed N20,074,050,000.00 to 192,906 students as tuition fees.

Expanding and Upgrading Higher Institutions
Conversion of Nok University (Kaduna) into the Federal University of Applied Sciences, with a take-off grant being worked into the 2025 budget, establishment of a Federal Polytechnic in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to enhance access to technical education, transformation of Yaba College of Technology into a full-fledged University of Technology, prioritising STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) disciplines.

A Paradigm Shift Toward Practical Learning
At the TETFund-sponsored National Research Fair in November 2024, Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, outlined a curriculum overhaul designed to prioritise 20 per cent classroom instruction and 80 per cent hands-on, practical training.

The new framework emphasises STEMMS (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, Medicine and Social Sciences) and TVET (Technical and Vocational Education and Training), to equip Nigerian graduates with market-ready skills.

Describing the Fair as “a call to action,” Dr. Alausa urged academia and research institutions to develop solutions for Nigeria’s socio-economic challenges, aligning with Tinubu’s vision of an innovation-driven economy.

A Call to Action: Driving Innovation in Education
To accelerate Nigeria’s transition to a knowledge-based economy, the Minister of Education is encouraged to visit Innov8 Hub, Abuja, where local inventors and researchers are developing cutting-edge technologies. Supporting such initiatives will further bridge the gap between academia, industry, and government policy.

As Nelson Mandela once said: “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” With Nigeria’s population projected to surpass that of the United States by 2030, investing in education, research and technological innovation is no longer an option, it is imperative.

Countries such as China, Vietnam, Taiwan and South Korea, have demonstrated that strategic investments in STEM education and vocational training can fuel industrialisation and economic growth. Nigeria must follow suit.

If sustained, the current trajectory of TETFund and Tinubu’s administration could position Nigeria as a global hub for innovation, technology and higher learning.
Olakunri is a public sector analyst and CEO of Write Affairs, based in Abuja.