Defending TETFund Against Political Undermining and Misrepresentation
By Tersoo Adagher
Since President Bola Ahmed Tinubu assumed office nearly a year ago, several attempts have been made to disrupt governance and undermine the policies of this young administration. A troubling tactic in this campaign has been the deliberate targeting and demonization of key government officials, presumably to keep them on their toes. Among those selected for this campaign is Arc Sonny T. Echono, the Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund).
The commendations for TETFund’s diligent efforts to reshape our public tertiary institutions are well-deserved. This was especially evident during the recent TETFund Research Fair and Exhibition in Abuja, which showcased significant advancements in science and technology in Nigeria. By uniting researchers, entrepreneurs, and the general public, TETFund is successfully bridging the gap between academic research and practical application. This event allowed attendees to engage with Nigeria’s top innovations, demonstrating the agency’s commitment to enhancing the nation’s educational landscape. It is disheartening, then, to witness the recent uncharitable denigration of TETFund by a small group of individuals who appear to be driven by political agendas.
One particularly egregious allegation came from Mrs. Patricia Yakubu, the APC Woman Leader in Adamawa State, who accused TETFund of financially supporting the APC Adamawa Chapter. These accusations are not only baseless but also defamatory, clearly designed to tarnish the reputation of Arc Echono and TETFund. Such claims are indicative of an attempt to embroil this esteemed institution in a purely political squabble.
The assertion that TETFund is financially backing the APC in Adamawa defies logic. As a critical intervention agency in the education sector, TETFund does not award contracts directly. Instead, it is the beneficiary institutions that undertake procurement procedures as set out by the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), subsequently awarding contracts to the most qualified vendors.
Last year, President Tinubu praised TETFund for its foresight and commitment to service delivery during the commissioning of projects funded by the agency in public tertiary educational institutions nationwide. Represented by members of his cabinet at various project sites, the President expressed satisfaction with the initiatives that are set to enhance teaching and learning, thereby improving academic standards across the board. He assured that his administration would continue to provide necessary support to ensure Nigerian educational institutions become globally competitive, fostering economic and technological growth.
The National Assembly, under the leadership of Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, has also voiced its unwavering support for TETFund. They have pledged to enact legislation that will further advance tertiary education in Nigeria. Projects worth over N650 million at the University of Ibadan and N1 billion at The Polytechnic, Ibadan, are testaments to this commitment. Other states have also witnessed significant investments in education, including over N4.5 billion allocated to Gombe State University and more than N2 billion for various projects at the Federal University of Technology, Abeokuta.
Under Arc Echono’s leadership, TETFund is also addressing the pressing issue of youth unemployment in Nigeria. The agency is implementing recommendations from its Graduate Employability Benchmark Program, conducted in collaboration with the International Finance Corporation (IFC). This initiative aims to improve employability outcomes for graduates and was spurred by an IFC report indicating that Nigerian institutions score slightly above the global average in various employability dimensions.
As TETFund refocuses its activities on learning outcomes and employability, its innovative leadership under Arc Echono has garnered praise from multiple stakeholders in the education sector. The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) recently commended TETFund for being a “driving force” behind the advancement of higher education in Nigeria.
Drawing from his extensive experience as a former Permanent Secretary in the Federal Civil Service, Echono is dedicated to transforming TETFund into a model of excellence in tertiary education funding. Professor Lilian Salami, former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Benin, stated that TETFund under Echono is driving critical educational reforms and restoring integrity to the sector.
To those who seek to undermine Echono’s efforts, I urge them to consider the wisdom in the saying, “It is not in the nature of worms to teach eagles how to fly.” Although detractors may bark, they cannot deter the caravan from its path. The managers of TETFund are experienced, focused, and committed to making a positive impact in their mandate. They are making remarkable strides, and no amount of deceitful rhetoric from faceless critics can derail their mission to revitalize Nigeria’s tertiary institutions.
TERSOO ADAGHER, A Public Affairs Analyst, writes from Abuja.
