The Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Mr. Sonny Echono, has called on Nigeria’s tertiary institutions to evolve into innovation hubs while continuing to produce skilled manpower for national development.
Speaking in Lagos at a meeting of the Committee of Pro-Chancellors of Nigerian Federal Universities during a knowledge-sharing programme themed “Re-thinking Governance Models for Innovation, Growth, and Resilience in Nigerian Universities,” Echono reaffirmed TETFund’s commitment to promoting research, entrepreneurship, and technological advancement in higher institutions.
He announced that 18 innovation hubs would be established across tertiary institutions in 2025 to boost Nigeria’s research and innovation ecosystem. The hubs, to be rolled out in phases, will also serve as mentorship platforms to scale impactful research.
Echono acknowledged existing challenges, such as inadequate funding and resources, and urged universities to explore alternative revenue sources. He stressed the need for governing councils to support such initiatives to ensure sustainability.
He also addressed governance issues in the university system, including frequent power tussles between management and governing councils. Echono emphasized the importance of strict adherence to legal frameworks and merit-based appointments to reduce conflicts and uphold academic integrity.
“A functional university system must demonstrate access, quality, and relevance,” he said, urging all stakeholders to focus on their statutory roles for efficient governance.
- On academic capacity building, he revealed that over 42,000 lecturers have benefited from TETFund sponsorships for postgraduate studies. He highlighted the Fund’s support across 13 core areas, including infrastructure, ICT, research, and scholarships, alongside special high-impact interventions.
