TETFund receives 2024 Anthology Visionary Award for leadership in educational advancement
By Uji A. Iliyasu
Abuja
The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has been given the 2024 Anthology Visionary Award, recognising the Fund’s exceptional leadership in promoting technological advancements in education.
TETFund s Director of Public Affairs, Abdulmumin Oniyangi, said the accolade highlights the Fund’s notable efforts in incorporating technology into the curricula and teaching practices in Nigeria’s public tertiary institutions.
The award presentation took place at the Orlando World Centre in the United States, attracting over 2,000 international academic leaders.
In his acceptance speech, TETFund’s Executive Secretary Sonny Echono, said the agency’s work is in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which aims to modernise Nigeria’s education system and ensure that students gain digital proficiency at graduation.
On October 17, 2023, the Federal Ministry of Education, led by Prof. Tahir Mamman, launched the Tertiary Education Research and Application Systems (TERAS) and Beneficiaries Identity Management System (BIMS) at a ceremony in Abuja. This initiative, a collaborative effort by TETFund, Anthology, and Blackboard, is designed to foster an inclusive educational environment, boost research and teaching capabilities, and enhance student services across Nigerian universities.
Echono emphasised the critical importance of digital literacy in today’s educational and employment sectors. He noted that while many nations have successfully integrated digital skills into their education systems, Nigeria faces obstacles such as outdated curricula, undertrained educators, and limited infrastructure, which leave graduates less equipped for technology-driven job markets.
To tackle these challenges, TETFund is aiding over 280 public tertiary institutions with a strategic plan that includes curriculum updates, educator training, global partnerships, and the creation of a National Centre of Excellence for Digital Literacy and Emerging Skills.
At the ceremony, attendees were updated on TETFund’s progress in adopting learning management systems and enhancing student information management through advanced technological solutions.