By Uji A. Iliyasu, Abuja
The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has cautioned beneficiary institutions against the improper utilisation of intervention funds, warning that those who fail to comply with established guidelines risk being delisted.
The Executive Secretary of TETFund, Sonny Echono, issued the warning on Tuesday in Abuja during a two-day strategic workshop for Directors of Physical Planning, Academic Planning, and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) from institutions currently benefitting from the Fund.
Echono stated that the workshop underscores the Fund’s commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s tertiary education system by addressing procedural gaps and promoting a better understanding of its intervention guidelines.
“TETFund will not stand idly by while some institutions continue to fall short of expectations,” he said.
“Let me reiterate that institutions which fail to access, utilise, or properly retire funds in accordance with our guidelines—or which underperform in key academic or operational benchmarks—may face delisting as beneficiaries.
“This policy is not punitive but is designed to safeguard the integrity and effectiveness of our interventions,” he added.
He explained that the primary objective of the workshop was to build the capacity of personnel charged with the planning, implementation, and monitoring of TETFund-supported projects.
“Our goal is to ensure that each institution represented here is well-equipped to align with the Fund’s operational procedures for improved efficiency, accountability, and developmental impact.
“This engagement is more than a routine meeting—it is a strategic convergence aimed at addressing recurring implementation bottlenecks, improving compliance, and boosting institutional performance.
“It is our collective duty to ensure that the benefits of TETFund interventions are not only preserved but also maximised through the timely and judicious use of resources,” he said.
Echono also outlined key priorities that will shape the Fund’s direction in 2025 and beyond.
He confirmed that the foreign training component of the TETFund Scholarship for Academic Staff (TSAS) under the Academic Staff Training and Development (AST&D) intervention has been suspended, effective 1st January 2025.
“This difficult decision was made due to the escalating costs of overseas training and increasing instances of scholars absconding. Nonetheless, our commitment to building local academic capacity remains strong.
“We will continue to support high-quality local postgraduate programmes and professional development initiatives that offer value at a sustainable cost,” he noted.
The Executive Secretary further reaffirmed the Fund’s emphasis on research and innovation, noting increased allocations for related initiatives in 2025.
“Research and innovation remain central to our mandate. For the coming year, we have scaled up funding to the National Research Fund (NRF), the Research and Innovation Fund, and the Triple Helix Model for research-industry collaboration.
“These initiatives are intended to produce practical solutions to national challenges, particularly in technology, agriculture, and healthcare, while encouraging commercialisation and inter-institutional partnerships,” Echono said.
The workshop was replicated across Nigeria’s six geo-political zones and featured paper presentations, interactive sessions, and question-and-answer segments.