The TVET (Technical and Vocational Education and Training) Initiative that was introduced by the President Bola Tinubu administration in May this year will help to reduce youth unemployment, promote entrepreneurship, and build a future-ready workforce that will serve as a vehicle for the country’s economic transformation.
It will also be in the best interest of the young people in the country to make the best use of opportunities to secure a good future and join other citizens to work for the growth of the country, a member of the Board of TETFUND, Chief Nurudeen Adeyemi Balogun, has said.
Delivering his speech during the Distinguished Personality Lecture Series of 2025 organized by the Department of Political Science, University of Ilorin which was held at the university’s Main Auditorium on Tuesday, Engineer Nurudeen Adeyemi Balogun , whose keynote topic was ‘TETfund As A Catalyst For Transformative Educational Outcomes: A Paradigm Shift Towards Achieving The Renewed Hope Agenda’s Objectives In Nigerian Tertiary Institutions’, talked about how the agency has positively impacted tertiary education in the country and got recognized by all as its ‘animating force’.
He also noted that in order to promote and support research projects, TETFUND will be making a total sum of N7.5 billion available through its National Research Fund (NRF) Grant while N3billion will be committed to the establishment of innovation hubs and parks at tertiary institutions in the country.
He added that the innovation hubs and parks that will be equipped with necessary facilities will help to transform academic ideas into practical solutions, foster entrepreneurship, and accelerate the commercialization of research outputs in order to promote economic growth.
Engineer Nurudeen Adeyemi Balogun also said the Social Investment Earn While You Learn (EWL) programme is one of the benefits of the Renewed Hope Agenda of the Tinubu administration while explaining that it is a vocational skills training loan scheme run by the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) through which training, a monthly stipend, and a startup grant are provided for the young people.
He also cautioned against the idea of putting projects in place without having them equipped with equipment that will make such projects become operative and achieve the intended purpose, this, he noted, has been recognized as a significant source of public funds waste adding that there is a need to put a stop to it.
Engineer Adeyemi cited instances where skill acquisition centers are built without provision of necessary equipment which will consequently defeat the purpose of establishing them.
Commenting on the decision taken by Mrs. Remi Tinubu to raise fund for the completion of the National Library project to mark her 65th birthday on September 21, Engineer Nurudeen Adeyemi not only commended the First Lady for doing this but also noted that it was a good decision while adding that such is done even in developed countries including the United States of America.
The event was attended by Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Professor Wahab Egbewole, the Registrar, Mr Mansur Alfanla, Kwara State Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Hajia Sa’adatu Moddibo, who was represented by Dr Akanni Sunday and other dignitaries.
Highlights of the event include presentation of appreciation plague to the ENACT Principal, Engineer Nurudeen Adeyemi Balogun and the announcement of donation of N5 million to the Department of Political Science by the TETFUND board member which earned a strong reaction of appreciation from the audience.
A lecturer at the university, Professor Gafar Ijaiya said he took a decision to attend the event so as to come into direct contact with Engineer Nurudeen Adeyemi having heard a lot about the positive impacts that have been made through the Innovation Hub he established in Ajase-Ipo.
Ijaiya , a professor of Economics, also commended Adeyemi for being altruistic.
Miss Helen Agbudeloye, the National President of National Association of Political Science Students (NAPSS), also held the audience spellbound while delivering a poem titled ‘TETFund: A Catalyst of Hope’.
‘So, the question before us Is not whether TETFund is useful The evidence is clear. The question is whether we will allow it to be truly transformative? Will it move us from infrastructure to impact? From the funding of projects to building futures? From hope on paper to hope in practice? So, we say TETFund in our story is not just a hero but a catalyst. It is the hand that strengthens our system And the seed that must grow into something larger than itself. Let us not only tell the story of TETFund as buildings erected But as minds expanded. Let us not only celebrate money spent But outcomes achieved. Let us not only hope but build a culture where that hope is fulfilled. For education remains the foundation.
The first brick in the house of nationhood If it crumbles the nation will stumble But if it stands strong the nation will rise So finally we say that TETfund Is the harnessing stone that can steady our foundation It is the catalyst that will transform our promise into projects And our dreams into reality’ she submitted in the poem in question-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
