TETFund to launch electric campus shuttle scheme in November
By Uji A. Iliyasu, Abuja
The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has announced plans to commission an electric campus transportation scheme across selected tertiary institutions in November, as part of efforts to ease mobility challenges faced by students nationwide.
The Executive Secretary of TETFund, Arc. Sonny Echono, disclosed this in Abuja on Tuesday during a courtesy visit by the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), led by its National Secretary, Comrade Shedrack Anzaku.
Echono explained that the initiative, which will commence with 12 pilot campuses, aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive to enhance student welfare and create a more inclusive and innovative learning environment.
“Students currently face many risks and high transport costs, especially those who live off-campus. From next month, we will be introducing electric student shuttle services in selected institutions. The vehicles will be managed by students themselves to ensure accountability and sustainability,” he stated.
He added that the electric vehicles would have designated charging points on each campus and operate at minimal costs per ride to ensure affordability.
According to him, the project forms part of broader interventions aimed at addressing accommodation, power supply, and learning infrastructure across Nigerian tertiary institutions.
“The President has challenged us to improve the conditions under which our students study – from hostels and classrooms to how they commute. We are investing massively in student hostels across 72 institutions and will begin commissioning more projects from December,” Echono said.
He further revealed that TETFund is scaling up its support for research laboratories, digital learning systems, and sustainable power initiatives to make Nigerian higher education globally competitive.
“We are building multi-purpose research laboratories in Kano, Port Harcourt, Lagos, and Abuja, so that Nigerian researchers can carry out world-class research without having to send samples abroad,” he explained.
On student welfare, Echono reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to ensuring that every Nigerian child, regardless of background, has access to quality education and support through the National Student Loan Scheme now managed by the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFund).
“We are institutionalising funding to make sure every willing Nigerian child has the opportunity to learn and succeed,” he said, adding that TETFund’s focus is being realigned to better serve the interests of students.
In his remarks, NANS National Secretary, Comrade Anzaku, commended the TETFund management for its transformative interventions on campuses, noting that many institutions now rely heavily on the Fund’s projects for their infrastructure.
“Without TETFund, many of the structures we see today in our institutions would not exist. We commend Arc. Echono for his visionary leadership and for prioritising the welfare of Nigerian students,” Anzaku stated.
He added that NANS had passed a vote of confidence on the TETFund boss, describing him as “a father and mentor” who continues to engage constructively with student leaders to promote peace and progress in the education sector.
Also speaking, the North-Central Coordinator of NANS, Husseini Ebu, lauded TETFund’s impact on institutions across the country and urged the agency to sustain its development drive.
“We have seen your signature projects across our campuses. The structures you have built have redefined the learning environment. We urge you to continue so that the children of the poor can remain on campus and learn in dignity,” Ebu said.
During the visit, NANS presented an award of excellence to Echono in recognition of his contributions to educational development and student welfare, and reaffirmed its vote of confidence in the TETFund management.