Sonny Echono
Something unusual and uncommon is about to happen in our public space and nation’s tertiary education sector courtesy of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND).
Th trail-blazing agency is set to promote a culture of maintenance of public infrastructure. Gone were the days when every new chief executive wanted to initiate their own projects and abandon the existing ones.
Last week at the announcement of the disbursement of the 2025 intervention cycle to public tertiary institutions in the country, TETFUND said its focus in the current financial year will be directed towards the upgrading, rehabilitation, and renovation of dilapidated infrastructure in beneficiary institutions.
The Executive Secretary of TETFund, Arch. Sonny Echono, was quoted as informing the heads of tertiary institutions that, “In line with the Federal Government’s directives, all Physical Infrastructure Development allocations for 2025 would be directed towards the upgrading, rehabilitation, and renovation of dilapidated infrastructure in beneficiary institutions.
“This was communicated to you earlier to enable you to consult widely and prepare your projects ahead of time. You were also advised to employ the services of your consultancy units and/or physical planning units in the preparation of projects. Under the current disbursement cycle, the Fund has significantly increased the allocation for research and innovation, academic staff training and development, as well as manuscript and book development.”
In a system and country known for lack of maintenance and/or total neglect of public infrastructure, this piece of news is heartwarming and at once reassuring.
And to imagine that in the current financial year, each university will get N2.8 billion, each polytechnic will get N1.9 billion and each College of Education will get N2.1 billion makes it all the more fulfilling.
Echono said: “Under this current disbursement cycle, each university will get N2,560,562,352.66 under normal allocation, with an additional N300,000,000.00 for zonal allocation, making N2,860,562,352.66 for each university.
“Each polytechnic will get N1,794,335,731.71 for normal allocation, with N200,000,000.00 for zonal allocation, amounting to N1,994,335,731.71.
“Each College of Education will receive N1,978,428,260.79 for normal allocation, with N200,000,000.00 for zonal allocation, amounting to N2,178,428,260.79.”
That was not all, Echono also urged all heads of beneficiary institutions to ensure the full utilization of their 2024 and previous allocations while fast-tracking the procurement process to access their 2025 allocations.
He also announced to the delight of all the heads of tertiary institutions that the Fund has also significantly increased the number of beneficiary institutions for its special and designated projects.
The Executive Secretary informed his audience that the 2025 disbursement allocation is structured as follows: “The total direct disbursement of 91.08% is made up of 48.90% as annual direct disbursement and 42.18% as special direct disbursement. Designated projects account for 8.72%, while stabilization funds are 0.20%. In this regard, each category of beneficiary institution has been allocated the annual direct disbursement as stated.
“Under the special direct disbursement category, key initiatives include increased funding and expanded participation in the Special High Impact Programme completion of the National Library building in Abuja, establishment of mechanized farms in some universities, and accelerated provision of student hostels through Public-Private Partnerships and direct construction in fulfillment of the President’s promise to Nigerian students and in furtherance of plans for our institutions.”
Among the key areas of focus in the 2025 disbursement guidelines, he said, include expanding infrastructure to enhance student intake for doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and dentists in our universities and colleges of medicine, adoption of medical simulation and technology to improve curriculum delivery and patient care, provision of alternative power to selected beneficiary institutions to mitigate current difficulties in coping with energy costs.
Other areas of priorities include addressing campus security, enabling disaster recovery, and completing previously distressed projects. Research and innovation support will continue with provision for the National Research Fund, institutionalization of R&D, expanding partnerships, Research Meets Industry (Triple Helix initiative), and commercialization of research outcomes
According to Echono, TETFund is also making significant investments in laboratory and agricultural development.
Echono noted that, “Additional funding has been allocated for the recently approved central multipurpose research laboratories in Lagos, Abuja, Kano, and Port Harcourt, along with the establishment of two new ones.
“Three new agricultural laboratories/demonstration farms will be set up, with additional support for the existing ones. Under designated projects, we will provide funding for the upgrading of engineering workshops and laboratories in universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education.
“There will also be increased funding for the National Skills Development/TVET program in our polytechnics. Some of the new intervention lines introduced include: Diaspora Outreach/Exchange Program, Staff Support Fund for universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education, provision of electric tricycles for campus transportation, and Student Startup/Innovation Grants.”
He further said the Fund is establishing 12 new Entrepreneurship for Innovation Hubs in polytechnics and colleges of education, noting that its TERAS platform aims to digitise and modernize learning institutions, aligning with global standards.
“We have consistently encouraged beneficiaries to make the best use of the platform as we sustain our collaborations and subscriptions to these learning management systems.
“As part of our commitment to reducing reliance on government funding, institutions are requested to foster partnerships with the private sector for infrastructure development and facility management, starting with student hostels.”
With TETFUND championing these laudable and far-reaching initiatives in the nation’s tertiary education, it is not just setting the pace in promoting a culture of maintenance of public infrastructure, the Fund is not just writing its name in gold on the sands of times, but also in the hearts of men, women and the youths – who constitute over 65% of the nation’s population.
For the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, through TETFUND, the Renewed Hope Agenda is on course.
_Oladunjoye, a veteran journalist and UNICEF trained social policy advocate, sent this via oladunjoyelo@gmail.com _
