TETFund: A Model Intervention Agency for Other Countries, by Rahma Olamide Oladosu

The Tertiary Education Trust Fund, TETFund, here in Nigeria, may just be an intervention body, especially in the tertiary education circle. But it is bigger than that in the eyes of other nations of the world.

TETFund is highly respected in the global arena owing to the unparalleled strides it has recorded in just ten years of its existence. In fact, some countries in Africa have since evolved mechanisms that will ensure similar intervention agency, like TETFund, is set up by their government.

One of these African States is Rwanda. Dr. Valentine Uwamariya, the Rwandan Minister of Education, recently sought clarification about the establishment and mode of operation of TETFund.

This is with a view to understanding the workings of the Fund and possible adoption of similar model in Rwanda.

Dr. Uwamariya spoke while receiving in her office in Kigali, the Executive Secretary of TETFund, Prof. Suleiman Elias Bogoro, who was in Rwanda on a working visit, recently.

Present at the meeting with the Minister were the Director, R&D and Centres of Excellence of TETFund, Dr. Salihu Girei Bakari; Technical Assistant to the Executive Secretary on R&D, Dr. Mustapha Ayo Popoola and the Directors of TETFund Centres of Excellence from the Beneficiary Institutions.

The Minister, who expressed appreciation to the Executive Secretary for the visit, stated that Nigeria and Rwanda had a lot to learn from each other.

She looked forward to forming formidable partnerships with relevant institutions in Nigeria.

“Thank you very much for having time to meet with us. I am sure we also have a lot to learn from Nigeria. It is not only you learning from us because we still have challenges.

“You know we are still having to struggle to have strong institutions. The good thing is that we know what we are lacking and we are trying to find solutions,” she said.

Speaking about the Centres of Excellence established by TETFund, the Minister also expressed optimism that her country could learn from such initiative.

“You also talked about the Centres of Excellence in your country. I am sure we can also learn from that. Why can’t we work together and learn from each other? I think we have a lot to learn from each other and I am happy that we are looking at how we can partner in different areas.

“I also want to hear more about the Tertiary Education Trust Fund. How does it work, so that we can also learn,” the Minister added.

At the meeting, Prof. Bogoro, the TETFund boss thanked the Minister for receiving him and his team in her office.

Bogoro gave a brief history about the establishment of TETFund and its contributions over the years towards making public tertiary institutions in the country globally competitive.

The Executive Secretary also spoke about his commitment towards the institutionalization of R&D in Nigeria, which is ultimately geared towards making the country a knowledge economy.

He expressed positive disposition towards developmental partnerships between Nigeria and Rwanda.

Prof. Bogoro in company of some Directors of TETFund’s Centres of Excellence in Beneficiary Institutions had earlier engaged with the Centres of Excellence at the University of Rwanda, particularly those specialized in Science, Technology and Innovation and useful collaboration discussions were held.

TETFund, as an intervention body for Nigerian tertiary institutions, has remained faithful to discharging its statutory mandates. This is what endeared it to the Rwandan Education Ministry. And it will also do for others, soon.

Rahma Olamide Oladosu is a Staff Writer with the Economic Confidential