TETFund, Pillar of Public Tertiary Educational Institutions in Nigeria – Isa Yuguda

Former Governor of Bauchi State and Chairman of the Governing Council of National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Mallam Isa Yuguda has described the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) as the pillar of public tertiary educational institutions in Nigeria, considering the massive intervention activities of the Fund in the institutions. Mallam Yuguda stated this when he led members of the Governing Council of NOUN on a courtesy visit to the Executive Secretary of TETFund, Arc. Sonny Echono and his management team at the Fund’s Headquarters in Abuja recently. Speaking on the purpose of his visit, the former governor stated that the Governing Council was at the TETFund Office to express appreciation to the Executive Secretary and his management team for their exemplary service and support for NOUN over the years, even as he requested further assistance considering the peculiar operational mode of the university. “We in National Open University are appreciative of your support in transforming the Nigeria educational system, but like Oliver Twist, we need more support in NOUN,” he said. While describing the open university system as the solution to Nigeria’s struggle to create better access to tertiary education, Mallam Yuguda appealed to the Executive Secretary to offer NOUN special priority as the university has several study centres across the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria providing accessible and flexible learning opportunities through open and distance methods. He further stated that NOUN currently offers 48 courses in all its study centres, with quality study materials that other universities in the country benefit from and would require necessary facilities and equipment to make study seamless. Mallam Yuguda affirmed NOUN’s commitment to educating common Nigerians who cannot afford full time study and revealed that the Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has indicated interest in supporting students’ enrolment in the university. In his remarks, the Executive Secretary of TETFund, Arc. Sonny Echono welcomed Malam Yuguda and members of NOUN’s Governing Council to TETFund, even as he commended them for their support for the university management. Arc. Echono noted that since its establishment, NOUN has succeeded in bringing education closer to the people and made it easier for those who could not afford full time study to have access to education even while working. While assuring that the Fund would continue to bolster its investments in quality and productive education to enable Nigeria fit into the global stage, he stated that the Fund would consider the peculiar needs of NOUN to ensure that study centres have necessary equipment and devices for seamless study. In a brief remark, the Vice Chancellor of NOUN, Prof. Olufemi Peters also expressed appreciation to the Executive Secretary and his team for the support rendered to the university over the years, noting that the achievements recorded by the university under his tenure were due to TETFund’s support. He explained that NOUN was the size of about four mega universities in the country and would require huge support from TETFund to carry out its mandate effectively.

Former Governor of Bauchi State and Chairman of the Governing Council of National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Mallam Isa Yuguda has described the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) as the pillar of public tertiary educational institutions in Nigeria, considering the massive intervention activities of the Fund in the institutions. Mallam Yuguda stated this when he led members of the Governing Council of NOUN on a courtesy visit to the Executive Secretary of TETFund, Arc. Sonny Echono and his management team at the Fund’s Headquarters in Abuja recently. Speaking on the purpose of his visit, the former governor stated that the Governing Council was at the TETFund Office to express appreciation to the Executive Secretary and his management team for their exemplary service and support for NOUN over the years, even as he requested further assistance considering the peculiar operational mode of the university. “We in National Open University are appreciative of your support in transforming the Nigeria educational system, but like Oliver Twist, we need more support in NOUN,” he said. While describing the open university system as the solution to Nigeria’s struggle to create better access to tertiary education, Mallam Yuguda appealed to the Executive Secretary to offer NOUN special priority as the university has several study centres across the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria providing accessible and flexible learning opportunities through open and distance methods. He further stated that NOUN currently offers 48 courses in all its study centres, with quality study materials that other universities in the country benefit from and would require necessary facilities and equipment to make study seamless. Mallam Yuguda affirmed NOUN’s commitment to educating common Nigerians who cannot afford full time study and revealed that the Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has indicated interest in supporting students’ enrolment in the university. In his remarks, the Executive Secretary of TETFund, Arc. Sonny Echono welcomed Malam Yuguda and members of NOUN’s Governing Council to TETFund, even as he commended them for their support for the university management. Arc. Echono noted that since its establishment, NOUN has succeeded in bringing education closer to the people and made it easier for those who could not afford full time study to have access to education even while working. While assuring that the Fund would continue to bolster its investments in quality and productive education to enable Nigeria fit into the global stage, he stated that the Fund would consider the peculiar needs of NOUN to ensure that study centres have necessary equipment and devices for seamless study. In a brief remark, the Vice Chancellor of NOUN, Prof. Olufemi Peters also expressed appreciation to the Executive Secretary and his team for the support rendered to the university over the years, noting that the achievements recorded by the university under his tenure were due to TETFund’s support. He explained that NOUN was the size of about four mega universities in the country and would require huge support from TETFund to carry out its mandate effectively.