Education
Development in Tertiary Education: ASUU Advocates for Activation of Unutilized Funds
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has emphasized the importance of activating the significant backlog of unutilized funds designated for tertiary education. The union cautioned that the ongoing dormancy of these financial resources could impede the advancement and growth of the sector.
This call to action coincides with a recent strategic engagement hosted by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), which brought together stakeholders and leaders from beneficiary institutions for a day of collaboration in Abuja.
During the meeting, TETFund’s Executive Secretary, Arch. Sonny Echono, highlighted that this strategic interaction signifies a new phase for the organization, aimed at aligning efforts with stakeholders to optimize performance and enhance the overall quality of tertiary education in Nigeria.
Echono noted that the recent increase in education tax from 2.5% to 3% positions TETFund to make a more substantial impact, particularly in improving infrastructure, academic programs, and student accessibility.
“As leaders of TETFund beneficiary institutions, your role is crucial in fulfilling the Fund’s mandate. Engaging constructively is essential to chart a clear direction for our operational priorities,” he stated.
“TETFund’s mission is to empower Nigeria’s human capital, addressing the pressing demand for skilled professionals across all sectors. Established in response to deficiencies in the tertiary education sector, TETFund originated as the Education Tax Fund in 1993 and evolved in 2011 to focus on enhancing the quality of public tertiary institutions through Education Tax contributions.
“The tax increase authorized by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu last year is a significant advancement for TETFund, reinforcing the government’s commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s educational framework.
“We encourage all stakeholders to actively participate in fostering these partnerships. Let us seek innovative methods to link our institutions with industry leaders, creating a mutually beneficial relationship that supports both students and the economy,” he added.
Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, the President of ASUU, urged university leaders to advocate for their interests rather than relying on others to negotiate their futures. He expressed concern that proposed tax alterations affecting TETFund could severely impact funding for Nigerian universities, stressing the importance of opposing such measures if there is a genuine commitment to the education system.
He remarked, “We face numerous challenges. If we do not exert effort, we may find ourselves without a presence in the next six years. Our future hinges on the actions of the National Assembly. I am pleased to see representatives from both the Senate and the House of Representatives present today.
“We are aware of two sets of bills in the National Assembly concerning TETFund—one from the executive branch and another from the legislature. The executive bill outlines an increase in the tax paid by industries to 4% by 2025, with TETFund receiving half, but this will decrease to 3% by 2027.
“It is critical that these funds are not diverted into loans through banks. The proposed NELFund, which functions as a bank, should not be the avenue for student loans. If we genuinely care about Nigerian universities, we must prevent this bill from passing. Should it succeed, it could spell disaster for our institutions,” Osodeke cautioned.
He further stated, “We have identified substantial sums of money tied up in central banks. In the last 20 years, many universities have been unable to access these funds. Let’s engage in a candid discussion.
“Projects initiated years ago still have unspent allocations. By 2031, our assessments indicate that we lack the capacity to utilize these funds. This accumulation signifies a need for better management. If we cannot effectively use current funds, we should not gain access to new allocations until we demonstrate our capability,” he explained.
Hon. Aminu Bello Masari, Chairman of the TETFund Board of Trustees, called for the depoliticization of the education sector to foster genuine development. He encouraged universities to devise their own funding strategies instead of solely relying on government support.
“I commend ASUU for establishing this intervention agency 21 years ago, which has remained committed to maintaining low establishment rates in our higher education institutions. This commitment has resulted in some of the best institutions in the nation. It is crucial that we begin to consider sustainable funding mechanisms for education,” Masari concluded.
In a bid to contribute to educational advancement and development, the Neo-Black Movement (NBM) of Africa, Obafemi Owode Sub Zone, under the Ogun Region, has donated educational materials to selected government primary schools in the Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State.
The initiative aligns with the Support-A-School-Child Project, spearheaded by the national leadership of NBM, aimed at bolstering education across Nigeria.
The donation was presented by Ambassador Tehinse Olanrewaju Ayoola on behalf of the Obafemi Owode Sub Zone.
Speaking at the event, Ayoola emphasised that the gesture would be an ongoing effort, particularly considering that Obafemi Owode is the largest local government area in Ogun State.
He urged students to remain focused on their studies while steering clear of cultism, drug abuse, and other social vices.
According to him, guiding young students in the right direction is crucial in preventing them from straying onto the wrong path.
The beneficiaries expressed their gratitude to NBM of Africa, Obafemi Owode Sub Zone, for their support and prayed for the continued growth of the movement.
The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has unveiled its initiative to establish 18 new Innovation Hubs in tertiary institutions throughout Nigeria in 2025. This effort aims to bolster the nation’s research and innovation landscape.
During the closing ceremony of the 30th Cohort of the Research for Impact (R4i) initiative, held at the Innov8 Technology Hub in Abuja, TETFund’s Executive Secretary, Arch. Sonny Echono, shared the details of this ambitious project.
Echono emphasized that this initiative reflects TETFund’s dedication to nurturing a culture of problem-solving research, entrepreneurship, and technological progress. He highlighted the critical role of education and research in fostering national development and sustainable growth.
The R4i program, developed in partnership with Innov8 Technology Hub, is designed to enhance the capabilities of researchers and academics, empowering them to conduct innovative research that directly addresses societal challenges.
The Fund is committed to institutionalizing Research & Development (R&D) within Nigerian universities and fostering connections between research and industry. Echono explained that the phased establishment of Innovation Hubs and Entrepreneurship Centres will enable participants to apply their skills continuously and mentor others in their innovative endeavors.
He acknowledged the importance of research in enhancing the quality of life in the nation and expressed gratitude to Innov8 for its collaboration in transforming the innovation ecosystem. Participants were encouraged to leverage their training to develop impactful innovations for their institutions and communities.
“I am pleased to recognize the impressive commitment displayed by participants of previous cohorts during their training, which led to significant innovations addressing various societal needs,” Echono remarked.
He also noted that several innovations from prior editions were showcased at the inaugural TETFund National Research Fair/Exhibition in November 2024, and he expressed confidence that the current cohort would similarly demonstrate their innovative outputs.
Echono detailed the phased funding approach for establishing Innovation Hubs and Entrepreneurship Centres, stating that the first phase will involve 12 institutions under the 2023 intervention, followed by 18 institutions in the 2024 intervention, and another 18 in 2025.
“These facilities will empower program participants to implement what they have learned at the innovation hubs and guide others,” he added.
Professor Idris M. Bugaje, Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), also addressed the audience, underscoring the necessity of patenting innovations and registering trade names for intellectual property protection. He urged Nigerian polytechnics to spearhead practical innovation by applying scientific principles to develop products and technologies that could enhance Nigeria’s technological status.
Bugaje criticized the country’s dependence on foreign manufactured goods, such as vehicles and electronics, and called for a shift towards local production. He cited examples from Rwanda and Uganda, encouraging polytechnics to promote teamwork and take proactive measures to demonstrate Nigeria’s innovative capabilities, thereby contributing to the national economy.
“I believe many of the innovations you have showcased are patentable, as securing patents is a crucial step in innovation. You must protect your ideas and discoveries. Furthermore, if any names have been proposed, trade name registration is also essential,” he stated.
He emphasized the urgent need for innovation in Nigeria, reminding attendees that despite being one of the world’s largest economies, Nigeria lacks a recognizable indigenous technology. “This training is vital as it fosters teamwork, which is integral to the innovation process,” he concluded.
Mr. Edward Singhatey, Director at Innov8 Hub, encouraged participants to take the knowledge gained back to their institutions and share it with their students to foster innovation. “We must focus on commercializing our research,” he urged, motivating attendees to utilize the resources at their disposal effectively.
The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) says it will partner with relevant agencies to boost Artificial Intelligence (AI) studies in the nation’s tertiary institutions.
The Executive Secretary of TETFund, Mr Sonny Echono, said this during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Friday.
He said the Fund had drastically scaled up textbook production in addition to other initiatives such as ICT centres to position Nigeria as a leader in AI in Africa.
He said this was part of TETFund’s contribution to the nation’s quest to tap into the multi-trillion dollars global digital economy.
According to him, AI is one of the few subject areas where the Fund could send scholars abroad for further training because it had not fully developed in Nigeria.
“We don’t send anybody outside anymore. But AI is a new and expanding field. It is one of the few areas we are training people abroad because we want to lead in Africa,’’ he told NAN.
He said the Fund had supported the development of AI textbooks, covering topics such as AI in teaching and learning, ethics, and curriculum development.
Echono said the aim was to boost the use of AI and to get the tertiary institutions to begin to exploit and use it in teaching and learning.
He said that in addition to book development, TETFund had trained over 3,000 scholars in AI and emerging ICT trends in the last two years in collaboration with leading institutions.
He explained that the initiative had resulted in the ICT training of over 17,000 educators through the International Computer Driving License (ICDL) programme.
“We started with general ICT training because we’ve been doing a lot of ICT training. If the teacher is not ICT-savvy, even for him to put his lecture on the platform is a problem.
“For him to interact with the students on the platform or to send his mark, to do his marking scheme, to relate, to get presentations, even zoom meetings would be a problem he must be ICT literate.
“After that we started letting them understand how they can use ICT, how they can leverage on it to improve the quality of their delivery and the experiences of their students,” he said.
“We want to leapfrog others in ICT, robotics. We are coming very strong in robotics now, but we are late comers, some people are already doing it before us.
“But we don’t want anybody to be ahead of us on this continent. So we are pushing those frontiers,” he said.
Echono also said that the present TETFund management inherited a stagnated book development programme that published only 20 books in 13 years.
He said that upon assuming office in 2022, he challenged the book development committee to meet ambitious targets of producing more books.
“I said, in the first year, you must do 50, if not I’m going to disband it, we’re wasting money coming to do meetings, talking, and not seeing the books.
“Later, I said I want to see up to 100 books being published and they said it can be done. We’ll give you all the support, publicise and advertise to Nigerian authors.
“We identified the subjects where we do not have enough textbooks. We Tasked the professors and all the experts in that field to put things in order..
Echono said this challenge spurred the book development committee as TETFund published 50 books in 2023, another 60 shortly after with another tranche of 50 textbooks published recently.
He explained that another batch of 50 textbooks was currently in under production. (NAN)