ABUJA – The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) Independent TETFund Intervention Project Assessment, Verification and Monitoring Committee has entered into a strategic partnership with the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) to strengthen transparency, accountability and quality assurance in the execution of intervention projects across Nigeria’s tertiary institutions.
The partnership was sealed during a courtesy visit by the committee, led by its Chairman, Comrade Salahudeen A. Lukman, to the Executive Secretary and management of TETFund in Abuja.
Speaking during the meeting, Lukman commended TETFund for its sustained contributions to the growth of tertiary education, describing the agency as the backbone of Nigeria’s higher education system through its investments in infrastructure, academic development, research, innovation and human capital development.
He said the committee was established to independently assess the quality of TETFund intervention projects nationwide, verify compliance with approved specifications, identify abandoned or poorly executed projects for necessary intervention, monitor the impact of the projects on institutions and students, and promote accountability in the utilisation of public funds.
According to him, the committee also aims to provide credible feedback that will further strengthen TETFund’s intervention framework and ensure that approved projects deliver maximum value to beneficiaries.
Responding, the Executive Secretary of TETFund welcomed the initiative, describing it as timely and commendable.
He disclosed that he had previously encouraged NANS to establish a monitoring committee and had even developed a monitoring template for the purpose, but noted that the idea was not implemented at the time. He therefore applauded the current leadership of the students’ body for reviving the initiative.
The TETFund boss highlighted some of the Fund’s key intervention programmes, including the deployment of electric vehicles on campuses, the Student Innovation Grant, which provides funding of up to ₦50 million for outstanding student projects, mini-grid solar power projects, infrastructure development, research support and academic staff training.
He attributed the expansion of these interventions to the commitment of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to reposition the nation’s education sector.
The Executive Secretary also reaffirmed TETFund’s commitment to transparency and accountability, assuring the committee of the agency’s full support.
He pledged to provide comprehensive records of intervention approvals and fund releases to beneficiary institutions to facilitate the committee’s nationwide verification exercise.
The meeting ended with both parties expressing their commitment to sustained collaboration to ensure effective project delivery, eliminate abandoned projects and improve learning conditions in tertiary institutions across the country. They also reiterated their resolve to promote accountability and value for money in the implementation of TETFund intervention projects.
