The Tertiary Education Fund (TETFund) Executive Secretary, Sonny Echono, announced that more than N400 billion has been allocated to tertiary institutions across Nigeria this year, addressing both current and prior years’ unaccessed funds. Speaking during the TETFund Management Retreat in Makurdi, Echono explained that while the approved 2023 disbursement was approximately N320 billion, an additional amount was made available as institutions accessed previously unclaimed allocations, bringing the total to over N400 billion. This significant increase was achieved by streamlining processes to help institutions overcome previous obstacles in claiming funds.

Echono also clarified that TETFund currently focuses exclusively on public institutions, as the existing legal framework does not permit funding for private institutions. However, TETFund collaborates with private institutions in research, supporting universal knowledge-sharing efforts. Echono noted that if the law changes to allow broader funding eligibility, TETFund would include private institutions without restriction.