Abuja: The Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Sonny Echono, has reiterated the organization’s dedication to advancing education and research within military institutions. This commitment was articulated during a courtesy visit by the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, and his delegation to TETFund’s headquarters.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the Nigerian Air Force has played a significant role in enhancing the nation’s education and health sectors, extending services through its institutions and medical facilities that cater to both military personnel and civilians. Echono highlighted that Air Force hospitals have become essential healthcare access points for many citizens, reflecting the service’s broader contribution to national welfare beyond its primary security duties.
Echono assured that TETFund would continue to support infrastructure, research, and academic development initiatives within Air Force institutions. He emphasized the Air Force’s crucial role in the education sector, providing services from elementary to secondary education levels, and extending healthcare delivery to civilian populations in various cities.
Some of the institute’s requests, such as staff accommodation and medical training support, are already included in TETFund’s 2026 intervention plans. Additionally, the fund is working on enhancing medical equipment and facilities in teaching hospitals to improve clinical training for students across tertiary institutions. Echono noted that TETFund is exploring support for specialized areas like aviation medicine to bolster manpower essential for military operations.
Furthermore, Echono committed to presenting additional support requests to the Board of Trustees under the presidential initiative for medical equipment and facility development. He assured that TETFund would persist in enhancing learning environments and boosting the global competitiveness of Nigeria’s tertiary institutions.
Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, the Chief of the Air Staff, praised TETFund for its ongoing support of tertiary education across Nigeria. Aneke acknowledged the fund’s pivotal role in fortifying infrastructure, research, and academic capacity in institutions nationwide, noting its significant impact on the training capabilities of the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT).
He highlighted that AFIT has developed into a multidisciplinary center producing skilled manpower for aviation, aerospace, and defense sectors. Aneke expressed the Air Force’s appreciation for its partnership with TETFund and a desire to deepen collaboration in emerging technology and healthcare training areas.
Aneke appealed for TETFund’s assistance in establishing an artificial intelligence and robotics laboratory at AFIT, stressing the potential of such a facility to enhance research and innovation in emerging technologies critical to modern aerospace and defense sectors. He also requested the construction of a five-kilometer perimeter security fence equipped with integrated smart surveillance systems and residential accommodations for staff to improve welfare and attract qualified professionals to the institution.