President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has sanctioned the allocation of ₦70 billion for the execution of the Mini-Grid Solar Power Project as part of the 2025 Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) intervention cycle.
Aminu Bello Masari, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of TETFund, made this announcement on Wednesday in Abuja during the 2025 TETFund National Town Hall Meeting, which convened various stakeholders, including high-ranking government officials, Vice-Chancellors of universities, Provosts, Rectors, and representatives from Academic Staff Unions of tertiary institutions, among others.
Professor Emmanuel Osodeke, the former President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), also addressed the gathering, urging the National Assembly to enact legislation that would prevent new universities and other tertiary institutions from receiving TETFund support until they have been established for 5 to 10 years.
Masari, who previously served as the Executive Governor of Katsina State and as the Speaker of the House of Representatives, emphasized the significant achievements of TETFund, particularly under the current administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and remarked that the Town Hall Meeting was crucial in the collective effort to create a more transparent, inclusive, and responsive tertiary education system.
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Regarding the Mini-Grid Solar Power Project, Masari stated that the initiative aims to deliver renewable and sustainable energy solutions to twelve (12) selected institutions nationwide, initially.
The institutions identified include Nigerian Army University, Biu, Borno State; Northwest University, Kano; Ambrose Alli University, Edo State; Alvan Ikoku University of Education, Owerri, Imo State; and Lagos State University, among others.
Arc. Sonny Echono, the Executive Secretary of TETFund, commended President Tinubu for his substantial support in ensuring that the Fund fulfills its mandate and the ongoing transformation of tertiary education into a catalyst for innovation and productivity in Nigeria.
He revealed that the President had sanctioned the rise in the percentage allocation of education tax from 2.5 percent to 3 percent, stating that this has significantly influenced the intervention programs of the Fund.
Echono also addressed the reasons behind TETFund’s decision to halt the training of scholars overseas, with the exception of certain specialized courses, revealing that the federal government is formulating a framework to guarantee that students funded by government scholarships abroad return to contribute to national development following their studies.
