TETFund tertiary education reform aims to align Nigerian institutions with global standards through infrastructure and staff development
TETFund tertiary education reform is gaining momentum as the agency intensifies efforts to transform Nigeria’s higher institutions into globally competitive centres of innovation, growth, and societal progress.
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Speaking during a stakeholders’ town hall meeting in Ilorin, North Central Nigeria, Engineer Nurudeen Adeyemi, a member of the TETFund Board of Trustees, reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda, which prioritises tertiary education as a catalyst for national development.
“This agenda prioritises the transformation of tertiary education as a critical engine for growth, innovation, and societal transformation,” Adeyemi said.
Since the inauguration of the current Board of Trustees, TETFund has pursued a reform-driven policy agenda, focusing on raising the quality of teaching, infrastructure, and research across universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education.
Adeyemi highlighted TETFund’s investments in human capital, noting that thousands of lecturers have benefited from PhD and Master’s sponsorships, both locally and abroad.
The Fund also supports teaching practice, academic conferences, and professional development programmes.
On infrastructure, TETFund has bridged significant gaps through the construction of lecture theatres, laboratories, libraries, ICT hubs, hostels, and administrative blocks, with some delivered via public-private partnerships.
“These infrastructural interventions are not only transforming the physical landscape of campuses but also enhancing the teaching and learning environment to meet international standards,” Adeyemi noted.
The town hall meeting, he added, was not just symbolic but strategic — designed to foster transparency, accountability, and trust between the Fund, beneficiary institutions, and host communities.
“This is not a routine event, but a strategic platform for open dialogue and collective action,” he stressed.
Meanwhile, Dr. Kamoru Kadiri, Rector of the Federal Polytechnic, Offa, praised TETFund for its pivotal role in sustaining Nigeria’s tertiary institutions.
“Without TETFund, many of our schools would be glorified institutions,” Kadiri said, while calling for more support in providing hostels, utility vehicles, and campus roads.
Established in 2011, TETFund manages the 2.5% education tax collected from Nigerian companies, focusing on infrastructure development, academic research, and staff training.
The Fund is now seen as the backbone of Nigeria’s higher education system.
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As Nigeria looks to align its tertiary institutions with global standards, TETFund’s reforms continue to play a defining role in shaping the future of education and national development.
David Okere is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering business, governance, public affairs, and human-interest stories with a commitment to accuracy, balance, and public interest reporting.
