The Nation Newspaper

Tag: TETFUND

  • Private varsities should be included in TETFUND, says Kolawole

    Private varsities should be included in TETFUND, says Kolawole

    • Trinity to graduate 72 students for 2021/22, 2022/23 academic sessions

    The Acting Vice Chancellor of Trinity University, Prof. Clement Olusegun Kolawole, has urged the government to include private universities in commonwealth initiatives such as the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND).

    He made plea during a Pre-convocation Press Conference held at Trinity University ahead of its 1st and 2nd convocation ceremonies, themed: “Convoking a Galaxy of Trinity Stars.”

    Prof. Kolawole highlighted the challenges faced by private universities, emphasizing fundraising difficulties and the complex operating environment.

    He acknowledged the financial strain imposed by the state of public utilities, the high cost of living, and the limited funds allocated to education.

    Acknowledging the challenges, Prof. Kolawole commended Trinity University’s prudent management and ingenuity in generating funds. He advocated for the liberalisation of TETFUND to include tertiary institutions, particularly private universities.

    “As a private institution, we cannot access TETFUND for research, but we’re making individual efforts, collaborating with some of our colleagues globally. I reiterate the call to add private universities to the beneficiaries of TETFUND. Private universities should not be excluded from a commonwealth such as TETFUND,” Prof.  Kolawole emphasized.

    He underscored the importance of private universities contributing to the nation’s educational development, emphasising that relying solely on commercial loans is detrimental.

    Read Also; Fed Govt completes Tincan port road

    Prof. Kolawole expressed the university’s commitment to being a solution provider and collaborating with other institutions to build an intellectual hub for driving positive changes in the nation.

    Trinity University’s main convocation ceremonies, featuring the award of degrees and honorary degrees, are scheduled for Friday.

    He assured that all graduating students had undergone thorough training, reinforcing the university’s dedication to academic excellence.

    The graduation ceremonies will witness the award of first degrees and presentation of prizes to deserving graduates who have been found worthy in learning and in character.

     In all, 72 students shall be graduating, across two faculties, and eight disciplines for graduating students in the 2021/22 and the 2022/23 academic sessions.

    “We have nine students graduating in the 2021/22 set, with two making First Class, while 64 will be graduating in the 2022/23 academic session, with 18 making First Class. The two sets of the graduates become the first set of the alumni of Trinity University.

  • Controversy trails House panel’s oversight on TETFund intervention in tertiary institutions

    Controversy trails House panel’s oversight on TETFund intervention in tertiary institutions

    In January, President Bola Tinubu approved the release of over N640 billion as 2024 intervention for universities, polytechnics and colleges of education under the 2024 TETFund intervention. But the implementation of that intervention by the benefiting institutions appears to be in jeopardy following directives by the House Committee on TETFund that the implementation be put on hold. But this has not gone down well with the institutions which accused the committee of meddling in their internal affair. But the House rose in its defence, saying it was merely carrying out its constitutional oversight. TONY AKOWE reports.

    When President Bola Tinubu ordered the release of the 2024 intervention fund by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund to institutions of higher learning, it was to ensure that new and ongoing projects in the universities, polytechnics and colleges of education across the country meet up the infrastructural challenges confronting them. He did not envisage that the institutions would have challenges in accessing the fund, more so the challenges coming from the parliament.

    Speaking at the 2024 Strategic Planning Meeting held with heads of the institutions, Executive Secretary of TETFund, Sonny Echono, informed them that the President had approved N683 billion as this year’s allocation to beneficiary institutions under the TETFund scheme.

    Echono said: “I am pleased to inform you that Mr. President has approved the 2024 disbursement guidelines in the total sum of N683,429,268,402.64. From this total, 90.75 per cent is budgeted for direct disbursement and 8.94 per cent for some designated special projects. A stabilisation of 2.27 per cent is allowed to enable the fund respond to emerging issues. This is inclusive of the difference between actual collections and the projections made for November and December 2023 collections as requested and approved by Mr. President.

    “Based on this approval, each university will get for the 2024 intervention cycle, the total amount of N1, 906,944,930.00. This comprises N1, 656,944,930.00 as Annual Direct Disbursement and N250 million as zonal intervention. Similarly, each polytechnic will get N1,165,355,235, comprising of N1,015,355,235 as Annual Direct Disbursement and N150 million as zonal intervention, while each college of education will get N1,398,426,282, comprising of N1,248,426,282.00 as annual direct disbursement and N150 million as zonal intervention.”

    A new dimension allegedly stopping projects’ implementation

    The House Committee overseeing TETFund headed by Mariam Odinaka Onuoha reportedly wrote to the Committee of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities not to implement this year’s intervention projects pending public hearing and verification of such projects. A media report quoted heads of institutions as accusing the committee of demanding money from them to approve the implementation of their projects.

    The Nation’s finding have shown that 53 federal universities, 63 state universities, 38 federal polytechnics, 49 state polytechnics and many federal and state colleges of education are qualified to access interventions from TETFund. Money obtained from the fund is supposed to be used to provide essential physical infrastructure for teaching and learning, instructional materials and equipment, support for research and publications, and academic staff training and development, among others.

    The Act setting up the fund, however, set out criteria for accessing the fund. But the institutions are also accusing the committee of demanding the payment of N2 million to facilitate the “verification” of documents submitted to the House committee.

    House panel denies allegation

     But, the House has denied the allegation of meddling in the activities of the institutions, saying the constitutional mandate of oversight should not be seen as meddling or interfering in the activities of the institutions.

    Spokesperson of the House, Akintunde Rotimi, said in a statement that the report was an attempt to smear the image of the House.

    He, however, did not deny the stoppage of the release of the fund by the committee, but said the directive was part of the oversight function of the committee. He said it was within the constitutional mandate of the committee.

    Rotimi said the legislative oversight or directives over monies appropriated by parliament for a public institution neither constitutes “unwholesome overbearing influence” in the management of the schools nor “breaches their autonomy” as argued in both reports.

    The House spokesman said: “Section 80(3) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), clearly spells out: “No money shall be withdrawn from any public fund of the Federation, other than the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation unless the issue of those money has been authorised by an Act of the National Assembly.”

    He said further: “Sections 88 and 89 of the Constitution also give the National Assembly powers to direct or cause to be directed, investigation into the conduct of affairs of any person, authority, ministry or government, department charged, or intended to be charged, with the duty of or responsibility for disbursing or administering moneys appropriated or to be appropriated by the National Assembly. The Nigerian Constitution serves as the Supreme Law of the Land, and every legislation or action remains subordinate to the provisions of the constitution even in the case of a seeming contradiction. This is by virtue of Section 1 of the same constitution and there have been a plethora of the apex court’s affirmations of this principle. It is essential to recognise that the constitution acts as the litmus test for the validity of every other law or action in the country, ensuring adherence to constitutional principles.”

     Rotimi argued: “In light of this constitutional imperative, it is our firm belief that the TETFund Act, like any other legislation in Nigeria, should be interpreted and applied in harmony with the Constitution.”

    In trying to justify the directive of the committee that the implementation be put on hold, Rotimi said the Nigerian Constitution gave the National Assembly the power to authorise withdrawal from public funds.

    Question on House power on budgeted funds

    The question, however, is whether the power of appropriation granted to the National Assembly extends to granting approval to government agencies to spend the funds budgeted for them for the purpose the fund is meant for.

    The House spokesman said: “While Section 7(5) of the TETFund Act may not explicitly mention National Assembly approval, it should be read and understood within the broader context of the Constitution, which mandates such approval for withdrawals from public funds.

    The section states: “The Minister shall, on the recommendation of the Board of Trustees and subject to approval by the President, make guidelines for disbursement of funds under this Act”. But, Rotimi said: “The absence of an express statement in the TETFund Act for National Assembly approval does not imply an exemption from constitutional provisions. Rather, it can be interpreted as an inherent understanding that all legislation, including the TETFund Act, is subject to the overarching principles enshrined in the Constitution.”

    Rotimi stressed that “the directive by the House Committee on TETFUND in its letter to the Committee of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities (CVCNU), requesting a suspension of the implementation of the Intervention Fund pending its approval is, therefore, well within constitutional bounds and in line with the need to ensure accountability.” He believes that the complaint against the committee is blackmail against them.

    He said: “For any one or entity to resort to blackmail of the committee with allegations of extortion, they must understand that such an action is libelous and necessary legal action would be taken. Not forgetting that the content of these reports raises fresh fears about the falling standard of journalism in our dear country; given especially that mere insinuations (rather than statement of proofs) could be elevated in such manner by any national daily.”

    He, however, said that there is a joint public hearing on the intervention programme organised by the National Assembly joint Committee on TETFund.

    Read Also: TETFund NRF grants YABATECH N34m for prostate cancer treatment

    He said: “A similar approach was employed during Budget Defence by the various Ministries, Departments, Agencies, Parastatals and Government-Owned Enterprises (GOEs) during consideration of the 2024 Appropriation Bill (now Act). We believe that the action of holding Joint Committee meetings,where necessary, allays whatever fears (due to cost and sundry reasons) such that agencies of government will have to interface with the so-called ‘duplicated committees’, as insinuated in one of the reports.”

    He dismissed the report, saying the national Assembly has not received any complaint from the heads of institutions or their leadership.

    Rotimi recalled a case concerning the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and some universities. “It is on record that the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) wrote to some universities in July 2023, as part of its investigation into alleged Violation of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000. The ICPC had in its letter requested these universities to direct some of its staff to refund unutilised funds released to them under conferences and ensure that the same is paid into ICPC’s TSA Recovery Account through a Remita Platform.

    “As a legislature desirous of effective service delivery, the Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen-led House believes that such issues are avoidable where strengthened oversight exists. In line with our eight-point Legislative Agenda, Strengthening Good Governance is the first among the eight priorities of this Assembly so listed. Anti-Corruption and Legislative Oversight are key pillars in these efforts at strengthening good governance. It, therefore, follows that hearings such as these are to be recognised and respected as part of legislative initiatives to strengthen our oversight functions to combat corruption in Nigeria,” he added.

  • Katsina seeks TETFund assistance for tertiary institutions

    Katsina seeks TETFund assistance for tertiary institutions

    Katsina State Governor Dikko Radda has asked the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) to support the state to address the challenges of insecurity affecting tertiary institutions in the state.

    He made the request during a visit to TETFund headquarters in Abuja.

    The governor explained that the interventions would provide for the needed infrastructure for the safety of the students, adding that the state is in the process of converting its ICT institution to a university of technology.

    He said a lot of students had been kidnapped, hence the need for the support to enable the state to provide adequate infrastructure for students to learn.

    The governor said: “We need to appreciate the Federal Government for these interventions. What could our institutions be without you?

    “The states are struggling, the country is struggling in terms of economic hardship, depreciation of naira, high food stuff, and effect on removal of subsidy.

    “The northern parts are struggling with insecurity. The resources we receive will not be adequate to address the challenges in the state so TETFund is a place we can come to for support.

    Read Also: TETFund NRF grants YABATECH N34m for prostate cancer treatment

    “We are having a threat of insecurity and a lot of students have been kidnapped, so we need a lot of security in the institutions to make students learn in a conducive environment.”

    Executive Secretary of TETFund Sonny Echono explained that insecurity was a national issue affecting not only education but promised that the necessary infrastructure would be put in place to address them.

    Echono said the agency had prioritised the trouble spots with measures in place to address the issues.

    He said: “Given the expansion in tertiary institutions in recent times, I am aware we are in the process of getting University of Transportation into the mainstream of our interventions.

    “We have seven to eight institutions in the state benefiting from TETFund. Katsina is in the eyes of problems of insecurity.

    “We had already prioritise Katsina in our security intervention because President Bola Tinubu is determined that in time of crisis, education must not stop.”

    He, however, said that TETFund has commenced its intervention line for the year, saying beneficiary institutions across the country have benefitted between N1.1 billion and N1.9 billion in its intervention line. He, therefore, advised the state’s Commissioner of Education to liaise with TETFund to enlist the institutions to benefit in its interventions.

  • Money palaver

    Money palaver

    • Vice-chancellors wary of appearing before house committee on TETFUND allocation

    The National Assembly is vested with the power to oversight the ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) of the Federal Government. Legislators have cited Sections 80, 88 and 89 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) as the legal basis for the performance of this duty. Section 80(3), for instance, specifically states: “No money shall be withdrawn from any public fund of the Federation, other than the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation, unless the issue of those moneys has been authorised by an Act of the National Assembly”.

    In consonance of this legal authority, the House of Representatives Committee on Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) has been reported to have directed all vice-chancellors, rectors and provosts of government institutions in Nigeria to appear before the legislators to explain, defend and obtain clearance on the disbursement of this year’s N683 billion intervention fund which the President has approved for release to tertiary institutions. This directive has not been well-received by the vice-chancellors, pro-chancellors and academic staff unions of the federal universities who consider it counterproductive in the light of the law and statutes establishing each university and also the Universities (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Amendment) Act 2003 (more commonly referred to as the Universities Autonomy Act No. 1, 2007) which vest the oversight of universities’ financial administration in the respective university governing councils.

     If it were simply just a matter of law, the controversy surrounding the directive would have been easier to resolve. However, the conflict or seeming conflict between the legislators and the vice-chancellors appears to have deeper emotional, psychological and moral dimensions. The directive is perceived by stakeholders in the public university system as a ploy to extort the vice-chancellors, deliberately or inadvertently delay the implementation of the projects for which prior budgetary approval had been secured, and thereby undermine the efficiency of the application of the approved funds.

    Read Also: You’re suffering in a relationship because you don’t have money, Tochi tells ladies

    The climate of suspicion and deep distrust notwithstanding, and considering the ambivalence of the law, good counsel would recommend that the representatives of the vice-chancellors appear before the TETFUND Committee of the House of Representatives to advance more systematically the reasons why it would be impolitic to proceed in the manner directed by the house committee. This may happen, because the committee wrote to each of the Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities, the Committee of Rectors of Polytechnics and the Committee of Provosts of Colleges of Education, and not to individual institutions. This is important, so that the unintended impression is not created that the heads of tertiary institutions are trying to stop corruption by violating the law.

    It is hoped that the unfortunate very recent jailing of a former member of the House of Representatives on the allegation of extortion and the public attention that has been drawn to the current TETFUND Intervention Fund approval controversy would restrain legislators who may want to tread the same dishonourable path. And should any legislator choose to continue on that path, there would be enough benefit of evidence to bring them to book.

    In all of these, the very worrisome question is “why should citizens be scared to appear before their ‘representatives’? And the more worrisome one is “if groups as elevated as the committees of vice-chancellors, rectors and provosts and even pro-chancellors could be so apprehensive of the House of Representatives invitation, and so doubtful of its commitment to rectitude and good judgement, what would be the fate of less-endowed citizens or groups?” Certainly, credible measures need to be emplaced to reassure Nigerians that the House of Representatives is not a coven of ego-tripping inquisitorial or extortionist oversight.

  • TETFund grants 12 Nigerians postgraduate scholarships in France

    TETFund grants 12 Nigerians postgraduate scholarships in France

    The Tertiary Education Trust Fund, (TETFund) has awarded scholarships to 12 Nigerian lecturers from its beneficiary institutions to undertake various Ph.D studies in science-related disciplines in France.

    The Executive Secretary, TETFund, Sonny Echono, disclosed this at a Pre-Departure Briefing for the scholars in Abuja.

    Echono said that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed with the Campus France in August 2023 which gave birth to the first set of scholars leaving the country to pursue academic programmes in various fields of study.

    The TETfund boss disclosed that the sum of N63,457,600.40 or  77,862.16  euro was approved in favour of each scholar for the three-year duration of the programme, which amounts to a total of 761,491,924.80 or  934,345.92 euro for the 12 approved scholars.

    He added that the funds would be disbursed to each beneficiary in line with the provisions of the agreement with the Campus France which was reached on  April 18, 2023.

    “The sum of N63,457,600.40 (€ 77,862.16) was approved in favour of each scholar for the Three year duration of the programme, which amounts to a total of 761,491,924.80 (€ 934,345.92) in favour of the 12 approved scholars.

    “This would be disbursed to each beneficiary in line with the provisions of the agreement,” he said.

    While stating that the 12 scholars were approved by the management of TETFund from eight beneficiary institutions, he said this approval was Cohort 1 and was sequel to the call for presentation of eligible prospective scholars earlier communicated to all TETFund beneficiary institutions.

    He added that the scholars were not only sent to acquire quality education but also given access to explore research opportunities and in turn contribute their knowledge to the development of the nation.

    “One of the main intervention line of TETFund is TETFund Scholarships for Academic Staff Training and through this over the years, we’ve been able to train close to 40,000 academic staff of tertiary institutions.

    “France and Nigeria have excellent bilateral relations, we have so many commonalities, we have common interest in the Gulf of Guinea, we have subsisting agreements in various fields including education, cultural engagements and so on.

    “But unfortunately, we have not codify or reduce this to the type of bilateral agreements.

    “We have individual institutions, PTDF, and institutions on their own going to French institutions to get admissions but we didn’t have agreement with them until last August but we feel it is almost too late to meet the admission cycle.

    “But the 12 scholars were able to beat that deadline. I am confidence that the next set of scholars we are going to be getting multiple of the numbers we have today,” he said.

    The executive secretary urged the scholars to be good ambassadors of the country, saying that there would not be room for abscondment as such act would be dealt with.

    He  pledged to continue to honour such agreements as well as expand the scope of the scholarships in the next academic session.

    While also charging the scholars to broaden the collaboration with France, called on them to get exposed to the different approaches of learning and bring it to develop the country.

    “I urge you to take advantage of the research opportunities as a way of additional knowledge. Be good ambassadors to TETFund and Nigeria in particular.

    ” Don’t get involved in political activities or  unionism that will put the reputation of the country on the line as any violation of the conditions come with consequences,” he added.

    Meanwhile, the Head, Academic Staff Training and Development Department of the Fund, Mohammed Garba, and the event was put in place to sensitise the scholars on TETFund guidelines and general conduct of scholars in France.

    Garba listed the scholars as: Peter Balogun from Yaba College of Technology, Jafar Usman, Federal University, Gusau, Zamfara, Abel Oroke, Ebonyi State College of Education and Adegoke Adesanmi, University of Jos.

    Read Also: UNIJOS secures N309m TETfund national research fund grants

    Others are Francis Maji, University of Jos, Temitope Akeem, Yaba College of Technology, Fati Salami, Federal University, Lokoja, Chiamaka Jenifer, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Kanu Chidiebere, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka and Samuel Faluyi, Ekiti State University.

    Also in the list are Musibau Idris, Federal University, Dutsin-ma, Katsina State and Ishaq Shehu, Federal University, Dutsin-ma, Katsina State.

    Responding, one of the scholars, Fati Salami assured Nigerians of necessary obligations as required by the programme to get far reaching results that would be beneficial to Nigeria and the entire world.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that highlights of the event featured the issuance of award letters to the scholars.

    (NAN)

  • FUT Minna gets N844.5m research grant from TETFund

    FUT Minna gets N844.5m research grant from TETFund

    The Federal University of Technology (FUT) Minna, said had received N844.5 million as National Research Fund (NRF) from the  Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund).

    Prof. Farouk Adamu-Kuta, Vice Chancellor of the university, disclosed this during a news conference to mark the 41st Founder’s Day, 31st and 32nd combined convocation in Minna on Tuesday.

    He said the university had consistently maintained its position among the league of universities in Nigeria and beyond.

    Adamu-Kuta disclosed that in 2022 and 2023, researchers from the various schools and departments of the university, demonstrated competency in research and innovation.

    “This attracted the research fund grant sponsored by TETFund,” he said.

    He said the university, in consortium with 11 other international institutions, won five million Euro in the European Commission grant to execute projects.

    Read Also: TETFund grants: FG approves N5.1bn to fund 185 research proposals

    He added that the project was tagged “EU-AU partnership for Resilient, inclusive and Safe Food System for everyone (UP-RISE).

    Adamu-Kuta said another research group won 800,000 Euro from EU commission under Erasmus Plus Programme, adding that the university had 10 research products that had been patented.

    The vice chancellor, however, said the university would continue to provide enabling environment and incentives for researchers and inventors to do more.

    He disclosed that the university would graduate 7,312 students of 2020/2021 and 2022/2023 academic sessions at a combined convocation out of which 187 would be awarded with first class honour. (NAN)

  • Fed Govt approves disbursement of N5.1b for Tetfund research

    Fed Govt approves disbursement of N5.1b for Tetfund research

    The Federal Government has approved N5,128,180,623 for the funding of 185 research proposals under the National Research Fund grant cycle.

    The NRF is coordinated by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund.

    The approval, which was conveyed by the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, followed the report of the TETFund National Research Fund Screening and Monitoring Committee, which recommended the funding of the research proposals after a rigorous screening.

    TETFund said the exercise commenced in March, last year with the receipt of 4,287 Concept Notes from prospective applicants.

    The organisation said this in a statement by its Acting Director, Public Affairs, Abdulmumin Oniyangi, on behalf of the Executive Secretary of TETFund, Sonny Echono, yesterday in Abuja.

    The breakdown of the approval indicated that the “sum of N3,784,635,923 was approved for the Science, Engineering, Technology and Innovation thematic group; N759,875,400 for Humanities and Social Science and Cross Cutting received N583,669,300.63 with individual grants ranging between N8 million and over N46 million.”

    The statement noted that some of the approved research under the Science, Engineering, Technology and Innovation thematic group include Application of the Hydro-Biogeochemical Framework to Develop a National Rural Water Quality Assurance Plan for Sustainable Water Quality Management in Nigeria; Development and Use of Doubled Haploid Maize Lines for Improved Maize Yield and Tolerance to Armyworm (Spodoptera Frugiperda); Development of an Intelligent Multichamber Evaporative Cooling Preservative System for Post-Harvest Storage of Selected Fruits in Nigeria and Development of Electric Vehicle With Special Tracking Features, among others.

    Read Also: Tinubu approves three resolutions to reduce pharmaceutical costs, bridge brain drain in health sector

    Projects under Cross-Cutting thematic group include Utilisation of Scrap Tires and Plastic Wastes as aggregate Conductive Material for Renewable Energy Storage System; Development of Appropriate Technology for the Production of Aluminum Alloy Sacrificial Anodes for Applications in Nigeria’s Oil and Gas Industry, as well as Development of an Economical Low Voltage Programmable Electroporator and Investigation of Pulse Electric Field for Wound Healing and Cancer Treatment; etc.

    Approved under Humanities and Social Science are Digital Financial Inclusion, Rural Households’ Consumption Structure and Well-being in Nigeria; Equity and Inclusion: Creating Access to Library Resources for Students Living with Vision Impairment in e-Learning Environment in Nigerian Universities and Mitigating Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder among Frontline Nigerian Army Personnel using Stress Inoculation Therapy; and others.

    “The National Research Fund (NRF) Grant was introduced by TETFund to encourage cutting-edge research, which explore research areas relevant to societal needs of Nigeria such as power and energy, health, security, agriculture, employment and wealth creation etc., in line with its mandate. The intervention received additional impetus under the Renewed Hope Agenda as a veritable tool to grow the economy and improve the standards of living of the Nigerian people,” the statement added.

  • TETFund grants: FG approves N5.1bn to fund 185 research proposals

    TETFund grants: FG approves N5.1bn to fund 185 research proposals

    The federal government has approved N5,128,180,623 for the funding of 185 successful research proposals under the National Research Fund (NRF) grant cycle.

    The NRF is coordinated by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund).

    The approval, which was conveyed by the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, followed the report of the TETFund National Research Fund Screening and Monitoring Committee which recommended the funding of the 185 research proposals after a rigorous screening exercise that commenced in March 2023 with the receipt of 4,287 Concept Notes from prospective applicants.

    The organisation said this in a statement issued by its Acting Director, Public Affairs, Abdulmumin Oniyangi on behalf of the Executive Secretary of TETFund, Sonny Echono on Wednesday, January 17, in Abuja.

    The breakdown of the approval indicated that the “sum of N3,784,635,923.00 was approved for the Science, Engineering, Technology and Innovation thematic group; N759,875,400.00 for Humanities and Social Science while Cross Cutting received N583,669,300.63 with individual grants ranging between N8 million and over N46 million.”

    The statement noted that some of the approved research works under the Science, Engineering, Technology and Innovation thematic group include Application of the Hydro-Biogeochemical Framework to Develop a National Rural Water Quality Assurance Plan for Sustainable Water Quality Management In Nigeria; Development and Use of Doubled Haploid Maize Lines for Improved Maize Yield and Tolerance to Armyworm (Spodoptera Frugiperda); Development of an Intelligent Multichamber Evaporative Cooling Preservative System for Post-Harvest Storage of Selected Fruits in Nigeria and Development of Electric Vehicle With Special Tracking Features, among others.

    Projects under the Cross-Cutting thematic group include the Utilisation of Scrap Tires and Plastic Wastes as aggregate Conductive Material for Renewable Energy Storage Systems; the Development of Appropriate Technology for the Production of Aluminum Alloy Sacrificial Anodes for Applications in Nigeria’s Oil and Gas Industry, as well as Development of an Economical Low Voltage Programmable Electroporator and Investigation of Pulse Electric Field for Wound Healing and Cancer Treatment; etc.

    Read Also: Beneficiary institutions to get N198b from 2023 TETFund intervention lines

    Approved under Humanities and Social Science are Digital Financial Inclusion, Rural Households’ Consumption Structure and Well-being in Nigeria; Equity and Inclusion: Creating Access to Library Resources for Students Living with Vision Impairment in e-Learning Environment in Nigerian Universities and Mitigating Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder among Frontline Nigerian Army Personnel using Stress Inoculation Therapy; and others.

    “The National Research Fund (NRF) Grant was introduced by TETFund to encourage cutting-edge research which explores research areas relevant to societal needs of Nigeria such as power and energy, health, security, agriculture, employment and wealth creation etc., in line with its mandate. The intervention received additional impetus under the Renewed Hope Agenda as a veritable tool to grow the economy and improve the standards of living of the Nigerian people,” the statement added.

  • Beneficiary institutions to get N198b from 2023 TETFund intervention lines

    Beneficiary institutions to get N198b from 2023 TETFund intervention lines

    Beneficiary institutions in Nigerian higher education are to benefit from the 2023 Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) intervention of N198 billion.

    The amount represents 62 per cent of the approved N320 billion by the government.

    TETFund’s Acting Director of Public Affairs, Mr. Abdulmumin Oniyangi, stated this in a document sent to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

    The document, which is also available on the fund’s website, highlighted the breakdown of the allocation to beneficiary universities, polytechnics and colleges of education.

    Oniyangi, who said the interventions were for public tertiary institutions, added that the Act establishing the fund does not include private institutions in its intervention lines.

    He said: “Research is part of our intervention lines. We do content as well, and not just infrastructure.

    “Sending lecturers to do MSc, PhD and all that is in research… In the research itself, there is what we call the Institution-Based Research (IBS) and this is also available not to talk of the National Research Fund (NRF).

    “So, our intervention is not skewed against anything. In any case, research cannot be undertaken if there are no equipment. So, everything is working together,” he said.

    Read Also: Kano: No deal with NNPP to compromise Supreme Court judgement, APC dispel rumour

    Also, TETFund’s Executive Secretary Sonny Echono had presented letters of allocation to heads of the beneficiary institutions at the 2023 TETFund Strategic Planning Workshop in Abuja.

    Echono had told them that the allocations were for projects categorised under a segment of the fund’s intervention called: Annual Direct Disbursement (ADD).

    Highlighting the breakdown, the TETFund boss said under the ADD, funds were shared in line with the stipulated ratio in the establishment Act equally to each tier of tertiary institutions, regardless of size or needs.

    On other projects to be carried out in 2023 outside the ADD, he said the fund had provided a budget of N30 billion for High Impact Projects in selected institutions across its three tiers of beneficiaries in the six geo-political zones across the country.

    The fund, which is allocated under TETFund’s Special High Impact Intervention, indicates that six universities would get N3 billion each, while N1 billion each would be given to six polytechnics and six colleges of education spread across the geo-political zones.

    “For this year, the Special High Impact will be given to six universities, and the six universities are: IBB University, Lapai, Niger State (Northcentral), Federal University, Wukari, Taraba State (Northeast), Federal University, Birnin-Kebbi (Northwest),

    “Imo State University of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences (Southeast), Edo State University (Southsouth), and Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State (Southwest).

    “The beneficiary Polytechnics are: Federal Polytechnics, Offa, Kwara State; Federal Polytechnic, Gombe; Federal Polytechnic, Kabo, Kano; Anambra State Polytechnic, Mgbakwu; Federal Polytechnic of Oil and Gas, Bonny; and Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology; Igbo-Ora.

    “Also, Plateau State College of Education, Gindiri; Federal College of Education, Yola; Federal College of Education, Zaria; Enugu State College of Education, Enugu; Delta State College of Education, Mosogar; and Tai Solarin College of Education, Omu-Ijebu,” he said.

    Echono also explained that 20 per cent of disbursements amounting to N64.2 billion would be utilised for special disbursement.

    The TETFund boss said a special intervention is at the discretion of the Board of Trustees (BOTs) of TETFund for which allocations are zonal-based in line with the mandate of the agency.

    He also said other intervention activities had been earmarked for the year, like the establishment of micro-teaching laboratories in some selected colleges of education from the six geo-political zones in the country.

    Echono listed the colleges as: the Federal College of Education, Otukpo, Benue State; Federal College of Education, Jama’are, Bauchi State; Federal College of Education, Sokoto State; and Federal College of Education, Isu, Ebonyi State.

    Others are: Federal College of Education, Ekiadolor, Edo State; and Federal College of Education, Iwo, Osun State.

    According to him, N500 million is allocated to each of the colleges.

  • Tinubu inaugurates N1 billion TETFUND project in Bauchi University

    Tinubu inaugurates N1 billion TETFUND project in Bauchi University

    President Bola Tinubu on Friday inaugurated the Tertiary Education Tax Funds (TETFUND) N1 billion Central Library Complex with a seating capacity of 2,000 at Bauchi State University, Gadau.

    Represented by member House Committee on TETFUND and other services, Hon. Bappa Misau, Tinubu acknowledged TETFUND’s impact on various Bauchi State institutions, emphasising the significant strides made in the Nigerian tertiary education sector.

    According to him, apart from the Bauchi State University, Gadau, other public tertiary educational institutions in the State such as Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU) and Abubakar Tatari Ali Polytechnic, Federal Polytechnic Bauchi, College of Education Azare, College of Education kangere have not been exempted from the giant strides recorded in the Nigerian tertiary educational.

    He said that TETFund had also sponsored 100 lecturers for Ph.D. in both foreign and local institutions totaling N955 million adding that 143 lecturers were also sponsored for Masters Degrees in both foreign and local institutions totaling N359 million, among others.

    Read Also: National Assembly commends Tinubu’s 4D Foreign Affairs Policy

    Also speaking, the Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Fatima Tahir, lauded TETFUND for the ‘milestone’ intervention, adding that the project would help in shaping the future of the institution.

    In his remarks, the Executive Secretary of TETFUND, Arc. Sonny Echono highlighted the N17.3 billion allocated for infrastructure-related interventions at the university since 2012.

    Represented by the Director, Monitoring and Evaluation, TETFUND, Mr Olajide Babatunde, the Executive Secretary, assured of continued support to enhance global competitiveness.

    “From 2012 to date, TETFUND has allocated the sum of N17.3 billion for infrastructure-related interventions only, cutting across the Annual, Special High Impact and Zonal interventions, amongst others,” Echono disclosed.

    “With about 97% funds already accessed, we note with delight that these funds are being deployed judiciously in the provision of requisite facilities, which are obviously seen in various locations on the campus here,” he said.