The Nation Newspaper

Tag: TETFUND

  • Student loan fund to be boosted with 30% TETFUND’s allocation

    Student loan fund to be boosted with 30% TETFUND’s allocation

    The financial status of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND)  is soon to improve.

     Yesterday, the Federal Government announced a plan to allocate 30 percent of ‘’initial allocations’’ to the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) from the federation account to NELFUND.

    Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, made this known while briefing reporters on various issues, including the Economic Stabilisation Bill,  in Abuja.

    NELFUND is a body setup under the Student Loans (Access to Higher Education) (Repeal and Re-enactment) Act, 2024  by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

    Read Also: Nigeria’s cycle of cruelty

    As of September 6, it had disbursed   N2. 42 billion to 59 institutions as tuition and upkeep allowances of  20,000 to successful students.

      On August 14,  the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) confirmed that it transferred N50 billion to  NELFUND from its recovery account.

      Onanuga explained that the plan to transfer TETFUND’s  30 percent ‘’initial’’ allocation will be achieved through an amendment to the TETFUND 2011 Act. 

    TETFUND has been instrumental in funding infrastructure projects in public higher institutions- universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education.

    Onanuga clarified that the allocation will not affect TETFUND’s existing interventions in public tertiary institutions.

  • 30 percent of TETFUND allocation to support NELFUND – FG

    30 percent of TETFUND allocation to support NELFUND – FG

    The Federal Government has announced plans to use 30 percent of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) allocation to support the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND). 

    Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, made this known while briefing journalists at the State House, Abuja, on various issues, including the Economic Stabilisation Bill.

    According to Onanuga, the amendment to the TETFUND 2011 Act will enable the fund to set aside 30% of its initial allocation from the Federation Account to support NELFUND’s loan disbursement to students. 

    This move is expected to boost the various sources of funding for NELFUND.

    Read Also: Wike directs demolition of structures obstructing kugbo international market

    TETFUND has been instrumental in funding infrastructure projects in public higher institutions, including universities, colleges of education, and polytechnics. 

    Onanuga explained that the allocation will not affect TETFUND’s existing interventions in public tertiary institutions. 

    He noted that TETFUND has visibly improved infrastructure in public universities, colleges of education and polytechnics since its inception.

    “The other one is Tertiary Education Trust Fund amendment bill 2024, why is important is that it has an element there that affect the Nigerian Education Fund. Of us have been wondering how we are going to fund the NELFUND, the government has an answer, most of the funding will come from the money going to Tetfund. 

    “So there is an amendment to the TETFUND 2011 Act, that now says the fund shall fund disbursement of NELFUND, this means that TETFUND before it disburses the amount in its fund, it shall set aside initial one third of the amount to be transferred to the NELFund, that is 30% of whatever TETFUND gets from the Federation Acct will now be passed on to readymade source of fund to NELFund. 

    “Then as to the TETFUND problem, well, I did know TETFUND has been doing alot of work helping universities, not just on university education, even colleges of education, polytechnics and so on. TETFUND has been doing a lot of work well government must have looked at the money accruing to it and must have felt that maybe if you take away 30% of whatever comes to it, it will also help the students who go to all those schools, because that’s what the whole idea is about. 

    “The idea of NELFUND is to make sure that all our children, wherever they may be, are able to go to school, even if their parents are poor, so TETFUND cannot just be building assembly house or laboratories without making sure that even the students who are able to use the facilities are able to use them with the loans from TETFUND”, he said. 

    Senior Special Assistant Digital/New Media, O’tega Ogra, recalled President Tinubu’s speech during the #EndBadGovernance Protest, where he announced plans to use financial realisations from illegal activities to fund the student loan scheme.

    Ogra also disclosed that the Federal Government has waived the requirement for public higher institutions to remit a portion of their internally generated revenue. 

    “Don’t forget that recently the President’s speech during the protests, he also ensure that some money gotten from illegal activities will also be moved to also fund nelfund, and it did that, and used to fund both nelfund”, he said. 

    Acknowledging that public higher institutions need more funds to support the administration of the institutions, O’tega added that the waiver granted to public higher institutions on internally generated revenue by the federal government is to further help them support the system.

     “Also, there’s something else that this government has done. All universities before used to give a portion of the IGR you know, they used to remit it to the federal government. That has been stopped. 

    “So all IGR universities get because you mentioned universities and how they can fund themselves can be used to support the institutions.

    “We know they need a lot more funding. We know the budgetary allocations to education can be improved, but a lot is being done, at least in the interim, to bridge whatever, you know, funding gaps that they have.” Ogra added.

  • Bailout controversy: Omitted 600 scholars send SOS to Masari, decries TETfund’s alleged threats

    Bailout controversy: Omitted 600 scholars send SOS to Masari, decries TETfund’s alleged threats

    The 600 Nigerian foreign scholars allegedly omitted from the Forex bailout approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu have appealed to the new board chairman of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETfund), Aminu Bello Masari to come to their rescue. 

    They also alleged intimidation of the members of the group by some officials of TETfund through their home institutions. 

    While President Tinubu approved the bailout for all affected foreign scholars, about 600 of them had decried alleged omission by TETfund. 

    In a congratulatory message to Masari, the group urged the new Board to prevail on TETfund officials to stop harassing their members through the management of their various home institutions for “simply asking for what has already been approved for them by the President but was denied them by the Fund and also for congratulating the new Board members”. 

    They said: “As beneficiaries of the TETFund Academic Staff Training and Development scholarship for various postgraduate programs (Masters, Doctorate, Benchwork, and Post-Doctorate programs), we are delighted upon the appointment of the new Board, as we are confident in the capability and antecedent of the Board members and particularly His Excellency, Alhaji Aminu Masari as the Board chairman. We firmly believed this would translate into significant improvement in the opportunity and quality of exposures provided to scholars, by the Fund.

    “Mr. Chairman Sir, we found it necessary to call upon your attention and the Board to the untold hardship that about 600 foreign scholars were subjected (names and details attached) due to TETFund’s omission of our names from the Presidential-approved Bailout. 

    “The approval of this bailout by His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was generally adjudged as a symbolic and highly compassionate gesture, designed to cushion the effect of financial frustration from high inflation rate, skyrocketed naira-dollar exchange rate and COVID-19 related expenses, as this would improve the welfare of Nigerian TETFund foreign scholars especially those that had to sell their properties or obtain loan just to see themselves through the program between 2017-2023. 

    “However, this action and inaction by TETFund to remove our names from the beneficiaries of this important and timely bailout, has escalated the financial suffering of all the affected 600 foreign scholars, as majority have several unpaid backlogs (fees, upkeep and other financial obligations associated with our academic pursuit) to high indebtedness.

    ” Unfortunately, TETFund’s omission of our names completely contradicts the directives given by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, that the approved bailout should covered all categories of sponsored foreign scholars within the years under review (2017-2023).

    “Meanwhile, our initial attempt to seek redress from the TETFund management proved abortive as an Asst. Director (ASTD) informed us in writing, on behalf of the Executive Secretary of TETFund that the Fund can no longer listen or relate with any foreign scholar about the issue of bailout. 

    “This shocking development compelled us to embark on reaching out to important national stakeholders in the country, by sending several

    “Save Our Soul-SOS”, appeals to the following important authorities, the Presidency, Hon. Minister of Education, the Senate President through the Chairman Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, Chairman, Senate Committee on TETFund as well as Chairman House Committee on TETFund.

    “In all these efforts of ours TETFUND’s initial response on the issue (in a newspaper publication on 28th June, 2024 ) said the Minister of Education is the one handling the case now and they have nothing to say on the matter. 

    Read Also: Stranded TETFund foreign scholars urge President to probe bailout fund

    “But in another newspaper report published byThe Sun (VOICE OF THE NATION dated 04/09/24) that we are “IMPOSTORS”. We wonder by which standard or yardstick/criteria to justify that vexatious and defamatory claim. The Tetfund Management have in their records all details of each and every one of us (600 OMITTED SCHOLARS). This can be authenticated. (please see appendix 2, as attached).

    “It is on record that there are scholars that had completed their programme and were paid while those ongoing were not. Such action makes the voice grow loud and not that we are disrespectful to anyone.

    “It is in view of all the above that we (600 Omitted Scholars from the Presidential Bailout) are ferventy appealing you and the Board to COMPASSIONATELY look in to our case with a view to ending our financial and emotional trauma.

    “With due respect Sir, as the chairman of the Board, we are humbly requesting TETFund Board to look into our case with compassion, fairness, justice and equity.”

  • Stranded TETFUND foreign scholars beg Tinubu to probe bailout fund

    Stranded TETFUND foreign scholars beg Tinubu to probe bailout fund

    Nigeria’s university lecturers studying abroad under the sponsorship of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) have called on President Bola Tinubu to investigate the disbursement of a bailout fund approved for them by the presidency.

    The scholars under the aegis of Omitted Foreign Scholars lamented that over 600 scholars, studying under the TETFUND sponsorship programme were omitted in the disbursement of funds designed as a measure to ease the burden of the rising foreign exchange rate.

    The TETFUND had described that the scholars as impostors and blackmailers, insisting that it had paid all the genuine claims submitted by the lecturers under its foreign scholarship programme.

    But reacting, the omitted scholars in a statement on Wednesday, September 4, co-signed by their executive members, debunked the claim, saying they are not impostors.

    Read Also; Soludo vows to punish parents enrolling children in illegal schools in Anambra

    The statement reads: “TETfund lied in the report published by a National Daily when it claimed that we are impostors because we are not. Such a claim becomes irresponsible when no official of the Fund could give his or her name as the signatory to the press release which the reporter of the news report used to report the Fund’s false claim.

    “We insist that we are not faceless and never imposters and we have our documents which are the evidence that substantiate our claims.

    “We hereby appeal to President Bola Tinubu, Education Minister, Prof Tahoe Mamman, and our distinguished members of the National Assembly to set up probe panels on this development to ascertain which party between ours and TETfund is being truthful.

    “For the records, we are 600 Nigerian foreign scholars who were supposed to be beneficiaries of President Tinubu’s bailout to foreign scholars affected by the unfavourable rising foreign exchange occasioned by the Covid-19 lockdown and other economic challenges.

    “We are Nigerian foreign scholars under the sponsorship of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) for M. Sc. PhD, Post-Doctoral and Benchwork studies and we have been left grappling with severe financial hardships since this ugly development happened a few months ago.

    “We urge the new Board of the Fund to act swiftly on our case as we have already submitted our petitions to relevant authorities and are also available and ready to present more evidence of the authenticity of our claims”, it added.

  • TETFund restates commitment to funding Nigerian Army institutions

    TETFund restates commitment to funding Nigerian Army institutions

    The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has restated its commitment to investing in the Nigerian Army institutions.

    Executive Secretary of TETfund, Sonny Echono made the commitment when he led top management of the agency on a visit to the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa.

    According to the TETFund boss, the military has been a vital supporter of educational institutions in Nigeria, making significant sacrifices in challenging environments and conflict zones.

    He eulogised the Armed Forces under the leadership of the CDS for its selfless services to the nation, even as he commended the military for their commitment in tackling the security challenges in the country as well as protecting educational institutions.

    Echono hailed the army for checkmating incidences of militant attacks and kidnapping within institutions of higher learning.

    Read Also; Acquiescent National Assembly not helping democracy

    His words: “The military establishment has been so supportive of our educational institutions. And we thank you for your service to our country. We thank you for the huge sacrifice that is being made to ensure that education continues even in times of conflict, difficult environments

    “We also want to commend the fact that we have seen a real slowdown in the rates of such challenges in the recent past. We are able to ensure that schools run without disruptions and unsavory incidents of attacks by either militants or kidnappers.

    “In the area of research and development, we see it as a major frontier for collaboration. Because research into security services and development of our defence industries and being able to service that sector is one area where we can express our national aspirations as a people.”

    The Executive Secretary expressed the commitment of TETFund to continue to support institutions of the Nigerian Army including the Nigerian Defence Academy, Army University, Biu among others.

    The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, assured that the Armed Forces will continue its unwavering support for educational developments in the country.

    He made a case for a partnership between the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) and TETFund.

    On the restrictions on importation of certain caliber of arms and ammunition into the country by the Ministry of Defence, said it would make Nigeria a major hub of arms production, save our foreign currency, and generate employment.

    Gen. Musa expressed gratitude for TETFund’s support to the NDA and other Army institutions, stating that it had significantly enhanced their capacity and ability to achieve more.

    He stated: “What you are doing has enhanced t

  • TETFund restates commitment towards funding of Army institutions

    TETFund restates commitment towards funding of Army institutions

    The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has restated its commitment towards investing in Nigerian Army institutions. 

    Executive Secretary of TETfund, Sonny Echono, made the commitment when he led top management of the agency on a visit to the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa. 

    According to the TETFund boss, the military has been a vital supporter of educational institutions in Nigeria, making significant sacrifices in challenging environments and conflict zones. 

    He eulogised the Armed Forces under the leadership of the CDS for its selfless services to the nation, even as he commended the military for their commitment in tackling the security challenges in the country as well as protecting educational institutions. 

    Echono hailed the army for checkmating incidences of militant attacks and kidnapping within institutions of higher learning. 

    His words: “The military establishment has been so supportive of our educational institutions. And we thank you for your service to our country. We thank you for the huge sacrifice that is being made to ensure that education continues even in times of conflicts, difficult environments 

    “We also want to commend the fact that we have seen real slow down on the rates of such challenges in recent past. We are able to ensure that schools run without disruptions and unsavory incidents of attacks by either militants or kidnappers. 

    “In the area of research and development, we see it as a major frontier for collaboration. Because research into security services and development of our defence industries and being able to service that sector is one area that we can express our national aspirations as a people.”

    The Executive Secretary expressed the commitment of TETFund to continue to support institutions of the Nigerian Army including the Nigerian Defence Academy, Army University, Biu among others. 

    The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, assured that the Armed Forces will continue its unwavering support to educational developments in the country. 

    He made a case for partnership between the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) and TETFund. 

    Read Also: 600 scholars demand unpaid bailout, praise Tinubu’s for TETFund board

    On the restrictions on importation of certain caliber of arms and ammunition into the country by the Ministry of Defence, he said it would make Nigeria a major hub of arms production, save our foreign currency and generate employment. 

    Gen. Musa expressed gratitude for TETFund’s support to the NDA and other Army institutions, stating that it had significantly enhanced their capacity and ability to achieve more. 

    He stated: “What you are doing has enhanced the capacity of the education system. For the Armed Forces, we can only continue to appreciate what you are doing. 

    “Everywhere we have our men, one of the key areas we told them is to make sure the schools are secure. Because without that, as a nation we can’t move forward.”

  • 600 scholars demand unpaid bailout, praise Tinubu’s for TETFund board

    600 scholars demand unpaid bailout, praise Tinubu’s for TETFund board

    A group of 600 Nigerian scholars reportedly omitted from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) bailout, has expressed concerns and frustrations and commended President Bola Tinubu for appointing new members to TETFund Board.

     In a statement  by their representatives, Basheer Shettima and Larry Awo, who are pursuing Master’s, PhD, Postdoctoral, and Benchwork programmes in universities abroad, congratulated the TETFund board.

     They praised the selection of Alhaji Aminu Masari, former Katsina State governor, as chairman.

     “We congratulate the board and appreciate President Bola Tinubu, for the appointment.

    This demonstrates the President’s commitment to addressing issues in TETFund, especially omission of our names from disbursement of the bailout,” the statement read.

    Read Also: Tinubu appoints DG NAPTIP, six others, new board for TETfund

     The scholars noted their omission had caused them hardship, stressing their situation has been well-documented with evidence submitted to the appropriate authorities. “We are not faceless,” the group said, adding they are available to provide clarification. The scholars decried statements by Abdulmumin Oniyangi, TETFund’s director of Public Affairs, who claimed all scholars meant to benefit from bailout had been paid.

     The group refuted these claims. Tinubu earlier approved bailout to help stranded scholars settle outstanding fees. Following this, TETFund announced it had disbursed N3.8 billion to 1,500 scholars.

     However, the group argued they were deliberately excluded from this disbursement.

  • TETFund: Much about contract

    TETFund: Much about contract

    By Olujide Mayowa

    With the renewed determination of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to fight all forms of corruption in a more professional manner and with due regard for propriety, efficiency and respect for the rule of law, it is the expectation of Nigerians that anti-corruption agencies in the country will align with the president’s reinvigorated commitment and discard the toga of media trials and leaks, or being used as instruments of blackmail and character assassination, particularly of public office holders.

    Sometime in April 2024, an online media outfit carried a publication on a N7.6 billion contract allegedly awarded by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), with a similar report emerging from another online newspaper barely a month after.

    While it is no longer news that anti-corruption agencies have since commenced investigations into the allegation against TETFund, one is taken aback to note that the investigation of the is not based on any complaint by the management of its beneficiary institutions, or vociferous unions in the institutions such as the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), but a little-known organization by the name Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA) with neither presence nor footprint in the educational sector.

    The reports suggest that that the Fund is being questioned over its decision to sign a memorandum of understanding instead of going through the contract process in executing the ICT Roadmap programme. The roadmap programme, records indicate, consists of two components. One is about enhancing the communication skills of relevant staff of tertiary institutions while the other is the blackboard digital learning platform for all students in Nigeria’s tertiary institutions.

    Available information indicates that the ICT Roadmap programme is not a new project. The scheme actually predates the tenure of the current executive secretary. It commenced in 2016 and was predicated on the report of a study on the state of readiness and relative level of adoption of ICT by beneficiary institutions. Just like committees were constituted for the Research Development Programme and Higher Education Book Development Initiative of TETFund, the same was done for the Learning Management System project. These committees parade academicians from all tiers of tertiary institutions across various disciplines with relevant and valuable experience to design the framework for implementation.

    The objective was clear. Many of the country’s tertiary institutions were lagging far behind in ICT knowledge and application. While various schools were at different levels, with some requiring additional investments in both infrastructure, systems transformation and personnel training, many institutions in remote locations had little or no broadband penetration. Moreover, newly established institutions have to establish systems, hire and/or upskill personnel before coming onboard the TETFund-supervised programme.  

    Analysts have argued that considering the “siddon look” attitude of many Nigerians as experienced with updating INEC voters register, collection of PVC and registration for National Identification Number, it is unwise to subject a scheme as the ICT Roadmap – largely a training programme- to the usual procurement process of fixed contracts, with the booby traps of default clauses, stiff penalties and huge cost variations.

    Indeed, the framework agreements and MOU approach embraced by TETFund entails partnering, collaboration and cooperation. These are more flexible approaches than the contract system. The approach of the managers at TETFund ensures that only tuition access fee per student/trainee is fixed. This allows variability without penalties and that is why the number of beneficiary institutions has increased to 271 from the initial 253 when the MOU was first executed. Presently, a few private universities have indicated interest in embracing the scheme under the TETFund umbrella. The new joiners will benefit from a fixed cost and enjoy a discounted price!

    Read Also: Lagos seeks partners to double LSETF funding

    One other lesson that can be learnt is that service contracts involving access or license fees are typically based on availability, whether it is used or not and are subject to renewal on an annual basis with the possibility of price adjustment. The MOUs adopted by TETFund have 3-5 years duration and the cost per trainee remain fixed for the entire period. 

    Going beyond the surface, seeking a strict understanding of the procurement process and the law which established TETFund, one understands that the agency does not unilaterally chart the path for its interventions to beneficiary instituti With the renewed determination of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to fight all forms of corruption in a more professional manner and with due regard for propriety, efficiency and respect for the rule of law, it is the expectation of Nigerians that anti-corruption agencies in the country will align with the president’s reinvigorated commitment and discard the toga of media trials and leaks, or being used as instruments of blackmail and character assassination, particularly of public office holders.

    Sometime in April 2024, an online media outfit carried a publication on a N7.6 billion contract allegedly awarded by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), with a similar report emerging from another online newspaper barely a month after.

    While it is no longer news that anti-corruption agencies have since commenced investigations into the allegation against TETFund, one is taken aback to note that the investigation of the is not based on any complaint by the management of its beneficiary institutions, or vociferous unions in the institutions such as the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), but a little-known organization by the name Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA) with neither presence nor footprint in the educational sector.

    The reports suggest that that the Fund is being questioned over its decision to sign a memorandum of understanding instead of going through the contract process in executing the ICT Roadmap programme. The roadmap programme, records indicate, consists of two components. One is about enhancing the communication skills of relevant staff of tertiary institutions while the other is the blackboard digital learning platform for all students in Nigeria’s tertiary institutions.

    Available information indicates that the ICT Roadmap programme is not a new project. The scheme actually predates the tenure of the current executive secretary. It commenced in 2016 and was predicated on the report of a study on the state of readiness and relative level of adoption of ICT by beneficiary institutions. Just like committees were constituted for the Research Development Programme and Higher Education Book Development Initiative of TETFund, the same was done for the Learning Management System project. These committees parade academicians from all tiers of tertiary institutions across various disciplines with relevant and valuable experience to design the framework for implementation.

  • TETFUND foreign scholars seek Tinubu’s intervention over unpaid bailout funds

    TETFUND foreign scholars seek Tinubu’s intervention over unpaid bailout funds

    Nigeria’s Universities’ lecturers studying abroad under Tertiary Education Trust Fund(TETFUND) sponsorship have appealed for the President Bola Tinubu’s intervention over their unpaid bailout fund. 

    The scholars under the aegis of Omitted Foreign Scholars (OFS) made the plea in a save our soul letter dated June 6, 2024 to President Tinubu.

    The Chairman of the Foreign Scholars, Kamal Odunjo-Saka lamented that 45% of scholars studying under the TETFUND sponsorship programme were omitted in the disbursement of funds. 

    Odunjo-Saka noted that the development had subjected the affected scholars to unfavourable harsh conditions  amidst the prevailing global economic realities. 

    He said TETFund refused to pay them on the excuse that they were not qualified, based on programme status, when they were approached, asserting that there was no segregation of scholars or any discrepancies during the agreement of conditions for bailout.

    He explained that they had witnessed instances where TETFund paid scholars who even completed their programme as early as 2022 and yet refused to pay the scholars currently under its sponsorship and those that recently completed their programme which as a result  run into financial crises. 

    The letter reads in part: “I am writing on behalf of all the Tertiary Education Trust Fund sponsored foreign scholars who were omitted from the payment of the recently approved Presidential Bailout to all TETFund foreign scholars within the year 2017 – 2023. 

    “Initially, the bailout was designed as a measure to cushion the effects of the COVID-19,  Naira devaluation/exchange rate, and particularly, inflation in the cost of living on scholars, hence the reason for the timeframe under review (2017 – 2023) considering that scholars within this period are grossly affected. 

    “We sincerely appreciate the generous bailout approved by Mr. President, His Excellence, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as this would alleviate the burden on Scholars. However, our confidence in the fair implementation of the disbursement has been severed

    “Currently, about 45 percent of the TETFund sponsored foreign scholars were omitted in the disbursement of the presidential-approved bailout by TETFund, subjecting scholars to harsh conditions amidst the current economic realities. 

    “While we tried to engage TETFund to ensure fairness in the disbursement, scholars were told that some are not qualified, based on programme status, while our recent request for engagement was turned down by the Fund. Meanwhile, both scholars on their programme and those recently completed were unjustly omitted without any tangible justification provided.

    “Initially, there were no segregation of scholars or any discrepancies during the agreement of conditions for bailout. Also, both ongoing and  completed Scholars were paid during the first and second tranches of the disbursed bailout paid between January to March 2024. 

    “This includes scholars across Europe, Asia, America and other part of the globe, while TETFund refused to pay fellow scholars in the same categories with no concrete justification.

    “Additionally, we strongly believe that the alien criteria of ongoing and completed does not hold through in the case of scholars due to many reasons, including the fact that all scholars under review are affected by COVID-19 or Naira devaluation”.

    Odunjo Saka appealed to Tinubu to use his good office to  speak with relevant authorities and ensure disbursement of the bailout fund to the affected scholars without further delays. 

  • UI inaugurates TETFund Centre of Excellence for Diasporal studies

    UI inaugurates TETFund Centre of Excellence for Diasporal studies

    The management board for the TETFund Centre of Excellence for Diaspora Studies at the University of Ibadan has been constituted and inaugurated.

    The Deputy Vice-Chancellor Administration, Professor Peter Olapegba performed the task on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor Professor Kayode O. Adebowale.

    Prof. Olapegba recalled that the Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa visited the University of Ibadan for the signing of the UI-NIDCOM Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), and this gave birth to the TETFund Centre of Excellence for Diaspora Studies in 2023.

    He noted that the management board of the centre was constituted and inaugurated to achieve the objectives for the establishment of the Centre.

    Prof. Olapegba said the Board will be charged with the oversight role of policy approval and ratification for implementation by the Management Team of the Centre.

    He added that the Board will also be expected to statutorily give a report of its activities to the Vice-Chancellor.

    The Director of the TETFund Centre of Excellence for Diaspora Studies, Professor Senayon Olaoluwa appreciated Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa and NIDCOM, for their support and the University of Ibadan management for its commitment to the establishment of the Centre.

    Read Also: TETFund hailed over bailout of 1,500 scholars

    Representatives of NIDCOM on the Board include Hon. Abdulrahman Terab, Head of Technology Transfer and Innovation Department; and Mr. Abdur-Rahman Balogun, Director of Media/Public Relations. 

    Other members of the Board are the director Research Management Office; the Dean of the faculty of Arts; the Dean of the faculty of the Social Sciences; Dean the faculty of Law; Dean of the faculty of Multidisciplinary Studies; Representatives of the Institution of African Studies, Department of English, Department of Medicine, and Department of Sociology.

    The Head of the Lagos Office of NIDCOM, Mr. Oladipo Odebowale, an Assistant Director, was at the event.

    The Chairman of the Board, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Research, Innovation, and Strategic Partnerships, Professor Oluyemisi Bamgbose, assured that the Board will justify the confidence reposed in it such that the Centre will soon become world-renowned for Diaspora Studies.