Echono receives personality of the year award from AlJazirah
By Uji A Iliyasu, Abuja
The Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Sonny Echono, has been named 2025 Personality of the Year and Tertiary Education Transformation Champion by Aljazirah Nigeria and London.
The award was presented at a ceremony in Abuja by the organisation’s CEO, Etuka Bassey, following what he described as a rigorous nationwide assessment.
According to Bassey, the recognition reflects Echono’s reform-driven leadership and transparent management of TETFund.
He noted that under Echono’s stewardship, the Fund has recorded significant progress, particularly in the delivery of projects across federal universities. These projects, he said, have been executed with notable speed, accountability, and value for money, moving beyond rhetoric to measurable impact.
Bassey highlighted key initiatives such as the National Research Fund, the expansion of academic research platforms, and the strengthening of the Nigerian Research and Education Network. He described these efforts as strategic steps aimed at positioning Nigerian universities within the global knowledge economy and enhancing research output.
In a major claim, Bassey disclosed that Al-jazirah conducted an extensive covert investigation into Echono’s integrity. The probe reportedly spanned several months and involved both local and international checks, including searches for illicit assets and offshore accounts.
Bassey said the investigators also posed as contractors and engaged with TETFund staff to uncover any evidence of misconduct. However, the investigation found no indication of corruption or unethical behaviour linked to Echono.
“Our findings revealed no corrupt practices of any kind,” Bassey stated, adding that the outcome has been compiled into a 72-page report to be submitted to the President and relevant anti-corruption agencies in August 2026.
As part of the honour, Aljazirah also produced a 3,000-page commemorative publication celebrating Echono’s contributions to the transformation of Nigeria’s tertiary education sector.
In his response, Echono expressed gratitude for the recognition, describing it as an independent validation of the agency’s work. He emphasized that the award was based on objective assessment and not influenced by external interests.
He dedicated the honour to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, acknowledging the President’s support for TETFund and the education sector. Echono noted that the current administration has provided unprecedented funding approvals, enabling the agency to expand its interventions.
He revealed that the president also approved additional funding to address energy challenges in tertiary institutions, with a focus on making campuses more self-sufficient.
Echono further explained that early disbursement of the 2026 intervention funds, approved in 2025, demonstrates improved efficiency within the system. He added that institutions nationwide have already commenced project implementation.
He concluded by reaffirming TETFund’s commitment to accountability, improved infrastructure, and human capital development. He said ongoing efforts are already yielding results, with better-equipped campuses, globally recognised lecturers, and students gaining skills relevant to the modern workforce.
Echono pledged that the agency would continue to deliver impactful initiatives in service to Nigeria’s education sector.