Chief Nurudeen Adeyemi Balogun, an aerospace engineer, who is a member of the Board of TETFUND where he represents the North Central geopolitical zone, faced a very friendly audience at the town hall meeting held by the agency at the Banquet Hall, Government House, Ilorin on Monday and he got a ‘standing ovation’ at intervals.
Attendees of the town hall meeting called TETFUND the lifeblood of tertiary education in Nigeria and emphasized the need for the continued existence of the ‘important’ agency..
Setting the tone for the event, Engineer Nurudeen Adeyemi Balogun noted in his opening speech that the gathering was ‘a strategic platform for open dialogue, reflection, and collective action’ while adding that it was designed to ‘foster meaningful engagement between the agency, the beneficiary Institutions, and the communities where they are located in the six geopolitical zones in the country’.
He added that the desired outcomes that TETFUND hopes to achieve through the event is to ‘strengthen accountability, deepen transparency, and build stronger bonds of trust among all stakeholders who share the responsibility of advancing higher education in the country’.
The current Board of Trustees of TETFUND, he added, has pursued the reform-driven policy agenda of the President Bola Tinubu administration anchored on the Renewed Hope agenda with vigor noting that the agenda in question prioritizes the transformation of tertiary education as a critical engine for growth, innovation, and societal transformation.
‘It is in pursuit of these pillars that the Board has approved and implemented numerous groundbreaking projects and initiatives across the six geopolitical zones in our country. One of the most remarkable areas of progress has been in academic staff training and development. Thousands of lecturers across universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education have benefitted from sponsorships for PhD and Master’s programmes, both locally and internationally. In addition, the Fund has supported teaching practice, conference participation, and professional development programmes, ensuring that Nigerian institutions are equipped with a globally competitive workforce of highly trained academics.
In the area of infrastructure development, the Fund has continued to address glaring gaps through the construction and equipping of modern lecture theatres, laboratories, libraries and ICT facilities. Several Institutions have also benefitted from new student hostels and administrative buildings, some of which were delivered through innovative public-private partnerships. These infrastructural interventions are not only transforming the physical landscape of campuses but also enhancing the teaching and learning environment to meet international standards’ he said.
The Board of Trustees has also according to him give priority to promotion of research in biotechnology, renewable energy and others which led to the establishment of Multi-Purpose Zonal Research Laboratories and Centres of Excellence while demonstration farms were also established at universities of Agriculture to promote sustainable farming knowledge, bridge the gap between classroom knowledge and practical farming skills, and strengthen food security initiatives in the country.
He also chronicled the interventions made by TETFUND to address problems facing tertiary institutions in the country with the North Central given special focus cognizant that it was a town hall meeting held for stakeholders in the geopolitical zone in question.
‘Perhaps one of the most visionary interventions of the Board has been the establishment of Innovation Hubs and Entrepreneurship Centres. These centres, spread across institutions like Bayero University Kano, the University of Maiduguri, Adamawa State University, Kwara State Polytechnic, and others, are designed to drive technology transfer, research commercialization, and entrepreneurship development. By fostering innovation ecosystems within our Institutions, the Board is laying the Foundation for knowledge-driven industries that can generate employment and contribute significantly to national economic growth
To address one of the most persistent challenges facing our tertiary institutions, the high cost of electricity, the Board has also approved the Mini Grid Power Project under the Year 2025 Intervention cycle, with a N70 billion allocation across eighteen (18) institutions, which have been selected to benefit from sustainable mini grid energy solutions. This bold step will ensure a stable, cost effective, and renewable electricity supply to campuses, thereby reducing operational costs and enhancing research and learning.
In the North Central Zone, several projects were extended by the Fund under the direction of the Board of Trustees. Under the Special High Impact projects, institutions that benefited from the intervention include the University of llorin, Kwara State, the University of Jos, Plateau State, Benue State University, Federal Polytechnic, Nyak Shendam, Plateau State, College of Agriculture Science and Technology, Nasarawa State, and Federal Polytechnic Bida, Niger State. Similarly, Federal College of Education, Odugbo, Benue State, Kwara State College of Education, and Federal College of Education Okene, Kogi State.
Under the Hostel construction Intervention programme, about eight & institutions benefited from the Intervention, these include University of Ilorin, Kwara State, University of Jos, Plateau State, Benue State University, Benue State, 108 University, Lapal Niger State, Federal Polytechnic Nasarawa, Nasarawa State, Niger State Polytechnic, Zungeru, Niger State, Kwara State College of Education, florin Kwara State, and College of Education Kabba, Kogi State.
Institutions from the North Central zone also benefited from the year 2025 Upgrade of laboratories and workshops interventions. In this regard, University of Abuja, FCT, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger State, Plateau State University, Bokkos, Plateau State, Federal Polytechnic, Mah, Kogi State, Federal Polytechnic, Offa, Kwara State, Plateau State Polytechnic, Barkin Ladi, Plateau State, Federal College of Education, Odugbo, Benue State and Nasarawa State College of Education, Akwanga,Nasarawa State benefited from the intervention. Meanwhile, Federal Polytechnic, Bida, Niger State and College of Education (Technical), Kabba, Kogi State have been selected to benefit from the year 2025 innovation hubs intervention. University of Ilorin, Kwara State on the other hand have been selected to benefit from the year 2025 medical simulation intervention.
Under the disaster recovery intervention, Plateau State University, Federal Polytechnic Nasarawa, and College of Education, Akwanga have been selected to benefit from the year 2025 intervention cycle. Similarly, University of Abuja, FCT, Federal Polytechnic, Offa, Isa Mustapha Agwai Polytechnic, Lafia, Niger State Polytechnic, Zungeru, Kogi State College of Education, Mopa, College of Education, Akwanga, Federal College of Kontagora, College of Education, Gindiri, Plateau State have been selected to benefit from year 2025 Security intervention.
Presently there are two projects to be inaugurated at Benue State University, Three projects at University of Ilorin, and Two at College of Education, Odugbo. Several other projects are still ongoing across the zone’ he added.
The Board of Trustees, Engineer Adeyemi noted, ‘envisions tertiary education institutions that will be globally competitive, innovation-driven and deeply responsive to the needs of the communities where they are located’.
He also urged continued support for TETFUND in order to achieve its goals.
‘As we remain steadfast in strengthening accountability frameworks, expanding Investments in alternative energy solutions, promoting advanced research in agriculture and health sciences and consolidating our ICT-driven learning platforms.
The journey ahead requires the collective effort of all stakeholders present here today. The responsibility of shaping the future of Nigerian higher education cannot rest solely on the Fund or government institutions; it demands collaboration, shared ownership, and active participation by all of us, institutions, communities, industries, and civil society alike’ he said.
The resource persons; Jawondo Ibrahim Abdul Ganiyu, a Professor of History and International Studies at the University of Ilorin, Vice-Chancellor, Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin, Professor Lateef Oladimeji and Alhaji Khaleel Bolaji, a former Commissioner for Water Resources in Kwara State, who had ‘The Achievements Of TETFUND Under President Bola Tinubu Administration’, ‘TETFUND As Oxygen Of Nigeria’s Public Higher Education System’ and ‘Challenges In The Tertiary Sub-sector And The Emergence Of TETFUND’ as paper topics respectively, acknowledged the status of the agency as the lifeblood of tertiary education in the country.
A lecturer at the University of Ilorin, Professor Azeez Adeoye, who represented the Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Professor Wahab Egbewole, described TETFUND as an impactful agency that must not be allowed to die while Comrade Rauf Bello, who is popularly called Labelabe, commended the Tinubu administration for repositioning the education sector citing the strengthening of TETFUND and the establishment of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).
Giving his speech, Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq of Kwara State, who was represented by his Senior Adviser and Counselor, Alhaji Saadu Salahudeen, commended TETFUND for providing support for tertiary institutions in the state which has according to him helped to improve quality of education in the state while noting that Kwara State will continue to be grateful to the President Bola Tinubu administration and remain committed to sustaining the enduring and productive partnership between the federal government and the State of Harmony.
He also noted that the state and North Central as a whole has a capable person as its representative on the Board of Trustees of the agency.
The Olupo of Ajase-Ipo, Oba Ismail Yahaya Alebiosu also spoke in the same vein ,submitting that Engineer Nurudeen Adeyemi Balogun has not only done Kwara State proud but also remains a good ambassador of the state.
The Emir of Ilesha Baruba, His Royal Highness, Professor. Halidu Abubakar, who recalled being a staff of Ahmadu Bello University for 35 years, also affirmed the fact that the establishment of TETFUND has been quite beneficial adding that having at different times served as Chairman, Governing Council of the College of Education, Ilorin and a member of the Governing Council of the Kwara State University, Malete, he can assert that its interventions had actually made it possible for many institutions to remain in existence.
Talking to journalists including Team@orientactualmags.com, Rector of the Federal Polytechnic Offa, Engineer Kamoru Kadiri said the institution has enjoyed better attention and support since TETFUND came into being.
The instruction, he added, has benefitted over N4 billion in grants and support for research, infrastructure development as well as maintenance of the existing infrastructure.
He however urged TETFUND to help in providing hostel accommodation and vehicles for the use of over 18,000 students and staff of the institution in order to ease things for them.
Acknowledging the presence of ‘massive infrastructure development’ at the institution courtesy of TETFUND, he also disclosed that the agency has taken necessary measures in respect of the maintenance of the infrastructure.
‘This year alone, the Fund budgeted N850 million for us out of which 30 per cent would be used to purchase laboratory equipment and the rest for maintenance of the infrastructure built by the agency’ he added.
Dignitaries at the event include Governor Abdulrazaq’s Senior Adviser and Counselor, Alhaji Saadu Salahudeen, Kwara State APC Chairman, Prince Sunday Fagbemi, members of the state house of assembly; Hon Abdulahi Danbaba and Hon Shola Odetundun, General Manager of KWASIP, Dr Abdul Wasiu Tejidini, Governor Abdulrazaq’s Senior Special Assistant on Political Matters, Prince Sulaiman Abubakar Sai Kayi, former Chairman of Kaiama local government, Alhaji Al-Hassan Bagudu, Alhaji Abubakar Mora, former House Leader, Kwara State House of Assembly, Alhaji Hassan Oyeleke, Alhaji Bibire Ajape, Alhaji Razak Lawal, Alhaji Hassan Gegele, Hon Aderamo Kuburat, Hon Y.S Ameen, former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon Umar Abdulahi Shaba , Alhaja Tawa Agaka, heads of institutions including the Nigerian Army College of Education (NACOE), Sobi Barracks, Ilorin among others.
The event was also attended by prominent traditional rulers including Olupo of Ajase-Ipo, Oba Ismail Yahya Alebiosu, Olomu of Omu-Aran , Oba Abdulraheem Oladele Adeoti, Elese of Igbaja, Alhaji Ahmed Awuni Babalola , Emir of Ilesha Baruba, Professor Halidu Abubakar, and the Olusin of Ijara-Isin, Oba Ademola Julius Ajibola-Team@orientactualmags.com Do you have any information you wish to share with us? Do you want us to cover your event or programme? Kindly send SMS to 08035023079, 08059100286, 09094171980 or get in touch via orientactualmag@gmail.com. Thank you
