The Government of The Gambia has announced plans to undertake a study tour of Nigeria’s Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) as part of efforts to strengthen its newly established tertiary education funding agency.
The announcement was made on Monday in Abuja when Gambia’s Minister of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology, Prof. Pierre Gomez, led a high-powered delegation to the Executive Secretary of TETFund, Arc. Sonny S. T. Echono, at the Fund’s headquarters.
Gomez said the visit was aimed at informing TETFund about the establishment of The Gambia’s Tertiary and Higher Education Trust (THET) Fund, which was modelled after Nigeria’s TETFund.
He also sought the cooperation and assistance of TETFund ahead of a planned study tour to Nigeria by officials of the newly established Gambian agency.
According to him, Gambian authorities had closely monitored TETFund’s activities and achievements through its website, social media platforms and other media outlets, leading to the decision to establish a similar institution to support higher education in the country.
The minister stressed the importance of collaboration between TETFund and THET Fund, particularly in research and capacity development.
He said such cooperation would
strengthen the two agencies but also deepen diplomatic relations between Nigeria and Gambia
Responding, Echono welcomed the Gambian delegation and gave an overview of the history and evolution of TETFund, noting that the agency had transformed from its original identity as the Education Trust Fund (ETF).
He explained that TETFund was established following the funding challenges that confronted Nigeria’s tertiary education sector more than three decades ago.
According to him, the Federal Government, in collaboration with other stakeholders, had to develop an alternative funding mechanism to address the challenges facing tertiary institutions.
Echono said that before the introduction of the new Development Levy by the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2026, TETFund was primarily funded through a three per cent education tax on the accessible profits of companies registered in Nigeria.
He added that only public tertiary institutions were eligible to benefit from the Fund’s interventions.
The TETFund boss said the agency’s interventions were designed to address critical needs in tertiary institutions, including physical infrastructure for teaching and learning, instructional materials and equipment, research and publications, as well as academic staff training and development.
He added that TETFund also intervened in other areas considered critical to improving and maintaining standards in Nigeria’s higher education institutions.
Members of the Gambian delegation included the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology, Ms. Isatou Auber; Deputy Permanent Secretary (Technical), Dr. Samba Sowe; and Project Coordinator, Central Projects Coordination Unit, Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs, Ms. Ndey Anta Taal.
