General
Executive Secretary of TETFund, Arc. Sonny Echono
By Felix Khanoba
The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has been lauded for its outstanding service delivery and efficient operations, with the President of the Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU), Dr. Smart Olugbeko, describing it as a model institution in Nigeria’s public sector.
Dr. Olugbeko gave the commendation during a meeting in Abuja with a delegation of students from various Colleges of Education. The students visited COEASU’s leadership to express appreciation for the Union’s instrumental role in the Federal Government’s approval of the Dual Mandate, which grants Colleges of Education the authority to award degrees.
In a statement issued by Dr. Ahmed Lawan Bazza, COEASU’s General Secretary, it was revealed that the student delegation came from institutions across the country. Their spokesperson, Comrade Ahmed Akande, applauded the Union’s contributions to securing the Dual Mandate and called on COEASU to push for the payment of monthly stipends to students on teaching practice, citing similar entitlements given to students in fields such as Engineering and Medicine.
Speaking on the new degree-awarding status, Dr. Olugbeko urged the students to acknowledge President Bola Tinubu for enacting the legislation into law and for showing commitment to the planned disbursement of teaching practice stipends to both students and lecturers. He said the implementation process is underway, with TETFund positioned to play a central role.
“The involvement of TETFund in the implementation process of the Teaching Practice stipend is a guarantee of its successful execution,” Dr. Olugbeko noted.
According to him, “TETFund under the leadership of Arc. Sonny Echono has transformed into a beacon of excellence in public service, and the major source of running public tertiary institutions in Nigeria. We are proud to associate with the Fund. We have every confidence that TETFund will bring its characteristic efficiency and transparency to the process of the implementation of the disbursement of the stipends when the time comes.”
He emphasized TETFund’s reputation for openness in managing its finances, highlighting the agency’s readiness to involve academic unions in its oversight mechanisms.
“TETFund handles huge sum of money every year and has been very transparent in the disbursement of the funds to tertiary institutions. It is one organisation that is not afraid of inviting the academic staff unions: COEASU, ASUU and ASUP to be involved in the monitoring of its activities when many organisations become hypertensive whenever they see the unions. The unions have been able to provide critical feedback to the TETFund which has reflected in the efficiency of its operations. Thus, TETFund has transformed into one of the best-run government institutions in Nigeria, demonstrating remarkable focus, transparency, and proactiveness. The Fund’s commitment to supporting tertiary education in Nigeria is laudable, and its impact is being felt across the country, and it is in the recognition of this that the Federal government considered TETFund as a critical stakeholder in its implementation.”
Dr. Olugbeko also acknowledged the contributions of the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, applauding his efforts to reposition the sector. He praised the Minister’s support for the Dual Mandate initiative, describing it as a transformative step for teacher training institutions.
Appreciating the students for their visit, the COEASU President reiterated the Union’s dedication to advocating for their welfare.
“We are committed to supporting the development of tertiary education in Nigeria, and we will continue to work with all stakeholders to achieve this goal,” he said.
He further encouraged the students to stay committed to ethical conduct and uphold the values expected of future educators.
“As teachers in training, you must demonstrate the good qualities of teachers in all your endeavours,” he reminded them.