President Tinubu to Commission Major TETFund Projects Across Nigeria This Year
The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has announced that President Bola Tinubu is scheduled to inaugurate a series of its landmark projects across Nigeria before the end of the year. This revelation was made by the Executive Secretary of the Fund, Arc. Sonny Echono, during an event in Abuja on Friday, where he received the Aljazirah Personality of the Year Award.
Recognition and Commitment to Education
Arc. Echono dedicated the award to President Tinubu, praising his steadfast support for the education sector. He assured that the President would be invited to commission a number of iconic projects as part of his forthcoming re-election campaign. These high-profile commissioning events are expected to be accompanied by extensive media coverage, aimed at showcasing the tangible progress and transformative impact of the administration’s investments in tertiary education nationwide.
Echono highlighted that this initiative would not only demonstrate accountability but also provide Nigerians with clear evidence of how public funds are being translated into critical infrastructure and improved learning environments. He recalled that in February this year, the Fund had disclosed plans to unveil more than 467 projects spanning 271 beneficiary institutions across the country.
Proactive Funding and Enhanced Planning
The Executive Secretary commended President Tinubu for creating an enabling environment that allowed TETFund to secure early approval for its 2026 intervention projects as far back as 2025. This proactive move has significantly enhanced planning and execution, enabling beneficiary institutions to access and deploy funds in a timely manner.
Echono explained that the early release of allocations would accelerate the pace of development in universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education. This ensures that projects are completed on schedule and to high standards, ultimately strengthening the overall quality of Nigeria’s higher education system.
Support for Energy Self-Sufficiency
In his remarks, Echono shared an example of the President’s support, stating, “There are times when we even take issues to him, and he will say, just like the power sector intervention, when many of our institutions were burdened by high electricity bills, students were even agitating, and we told him we needed to intervene in this area, that we’ll do it over a period because of limitation of funds. And he said to us, ‘Don’t worry, go ahead and do your own, I will also mobilise additional money to support you so that we can ensure that most of our tertiary institutions would become energy self-sufficient’. And he kept his word, the funds mobilised for the institutions was even twice what we have been able to provide.”
He noted that the award serves as a testament to the administration’s commitment to revitalising tertiary education and driving sustainable development across Nigeria.
Award Recognition for Leadership
Earlier at the ceremony, the Chief Executive Officer of Aljazirah Nigeria/London, Dr. Etuk Bassey, explained that the award was bestowed on Echono in recognition of his exceptional leadership, unwavering commitment to educational development, and transformative impact on Nigeria’s tertiary education landscape.
Bassey emphasised that under Echono’s stewardship, TETFund has recorded remarkable strides in infrastructure development, academic staff training, and the integration of technology into learning across institutions. He added that the honour reflects Echono’s dedication to transparency, accountability, and strategic reforms that have strengthened the credibility and effectiveness of the intervention agency.
According to Bassey, the award serves not only as a celebration of past achievements but also as an encouragement to sustain the momentum in advancing quality education and national development.
