Gambia to understudy TETFund, seeks intervention agency’s support

The Government of the Republic of Gambia has announced plans to undertake a study tour of Nigeria’s foremost intervention agency, the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund).

Gambia’s Minister of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology (MoHERST), Hon. Prof. Pierre Gomez, made this known when he led a high-powered delegation to the Executive Secretary of TETFund, Arc. Sonny Echono, at the Fund’s headquarters in Abuja.

This was contained in a statement on Monday in Abuja by the Director, Public Affairs of TETFund, Abdulmumin Oniyangi.

Speaking during the visit, the Gambian education minister stated that the purpose of the visit was to inform the Executive Secretary about the establishment of Gambia’s Tertiary and Higher Education Trust (THET) Fund, a replica of Nigeria’s TETFund, and to seek the Fund’s assistance and cooperation during a study tour that would be embarked upon in Nigeria by officials of THET Fund soon.

He revealed that the Gambian authorities had over the years carefully followed the activities and achievements of TETFund on the Fund’s website, its social media handles and other media platforms, and found it necessary to establish a similar agency in order to support higher institutions in the country.

Prof Gomez emphasised the need for effective collaboration between both agencies, specifically in the areas of research and capacity development, noting that it would further strengthen diplomatic ties between Nigeria and Gambia, particularly as neighbours in the West African region.

Welcoming the team to Nigeria, the Executive Secretary of TETFund, Arc. Sonny S. T. Echono, expressed appreciation to the Gambian education minister and his entourage for the visit.

He gave a brief account of the history of TETFund, noting that its status had over time transformed from when it was originally established as the Education Trust Fund (ETF).

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The Executive Secretary informed the delegation that the establishment of TETFund arose from a critical crisis that faced the tertiary education sector over three decades ago, which necessitated the Federal Government and other critical stakeholders coming up with an alternative source of funding for the institutions.

He stated that until the introduction of the new Development Levy by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration in 2026, TETFund’s source of funding was a three per cent education tax on the accessible profits of companies registered in Nigeria, with only public tertiary institutions enlisted as beneficiaries.

Highlighting some of the Fund’s achievements over the years, the Executive Secretary emphasised that interventions are targeted at solving critical needs of institutions, which include essential physical infrastructure for teaching and learning, instructional materials and equipment, research and publication, academic staff training and development, and any other area that is critical and essential for the improvement and maintenance of standards in higher educational institutions.

Other members of the Gambian delegation included Ms Isatou Auber, Permanent Secretary, MoHERST; Dr Samba Sowe, Deputy Permanent Secretary (Technical), MoHERST; and Ms Ndey Anta Taal, Project Coordinator, CPCU, Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs.