By Abdulfatai Ibrahim
We have antecedent in this country that when education is given premium, it will yield dividends”, so says Professor Suleiman Elias Bogoro, the  Executive Secretary of Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETfund).

It is worthy of note to profess that tertiary education in Nigeria has gone through turbulent times and it is against this backdrop that the activities of TETfund come to the fore.

Needless to mention that tertiary education in Nigeria is bedeviled by a lot of pitfalls i.e, lack of infrastructure, infrastructural facilities, to the absence of human capacity, just to mention but a few.

All these notwithstanding, I have come to realize that the fund is poised to keep tertiary institutions on the path of academic excellence and competitive standards in the form given the template already being implemented by the leadership.

The fund has spent much on lecturers’ capacity building to facilitate academic staff programmes. It is believed that these programmes would shore up intellectual capacities of the academicians, particularly for those who have gone rustic.

Again, the move to acquire library books and e – resources by TETfund is another welcome development. Besides the fact that this acquisition would go a long way to reignite the use of libraries for reading purposes, this move would also deepen our institutions focus on academic content, quality and excellence.

It is the firm belief of the managers of the fund that the acquisition of these libraries and e – resources would encourage research activities which in the long run would impact positively on the nation.

It is imperative to state here that the developed nations of the West hinge their economic growth and development on research and developmental studies.

Abigail Adams ones said, “Learning is not attained by chance; it must be sought for with ardor and attended to with diligence”.  When educating the minds of our youth, we must not forget to educate their hearts as well. The consolidation on schools’ infrastructure nationwide under the visionary and dynamic leadership of Prof. Bogoro is another step in a right direction.

This would not only facilitate teaching and learning but also, reduce the usual congestion of our lecture hall, thereby improving quality education.

Health is wealth. So goes the popular maxim. The release of funds by TETfund to the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) to commence the building of a specialist hospital for the University’s school of health sciences is worthy of emulation. This hospital to a great extent will not only serve as a hospital for the general public to access Medicare but in addition, it will serve as practical laboratories for medical students. Furthermore, this would also enhance the training of medical personnels with modern equipment provided. Diagnostic procedures would improve especially for non- communicable disease like cancers among others. The provision of surgical equipments would enhance treatment especially when surgery is involved. This would boost the competence of Nigerian’s healthcare on its people and reduce expenditure on overseas trips for medical treatments. Telemedicine which is part of modern medicine would be available to potentiate treatment among others.

As TEFfund ventures transition to knowledge economy and seeks to strengthen entrepreneurial studies in our tertiary institutions of learning across the country, the task ahead remains onus, yet attainable. Moreover, the intention of Prof. Bogoro and his management in setting up TETfund Zonal offices in the six geo- political zones of the country for administrative convenience is highly commendable and legendary. This would further be and opportunity of providing employments for our teaming youths.

On a lighter note I hereby crave the indulgence of the Executive Secretary TETfund, Professor Suleiman Elias Bogoro to keep the flag flying, with his consistent ways of monitoring the funds disbursed to schools for priority projects, geared towards taking our educational system to the Eldorado as well as achieving the desired goals of setting up the agency.

To end this piece, I would therefore entreat the executive Secretary to continue to carry all stakeholders along, as he delivers this noble task. As Henry Ford puts it, “working together is success”. From what has been done so far, it is clear that the goal of the fund is closer than many think. The management only needs to stay focused and keep its eyes on the prize and follow its heart as Ricardo Honsham once admonished.

Abdulfatai Ibrahim, a Public Affairs   Analyst wrote from Ilorin, Nigeria