Abuja: The Government of The Gambia has announced plans to undertake a study tour of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) in Nigeria. The Gambian Minister of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology, Prof. Pierre Gomez, disclosed this during a visit to the Executive Secretary of TETFund, Sonny Echono.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Gomez stated that the visit aimed to inform Echono about the establishment of The Gambia’s Tertiary and Higher Education Trust (THET) Fund, which is modeled after Nigeria’s TETFund. He mentioned that officials from the newly established THET Fund would soon embark on a study tour of Nigeria and sought TETFund’s assistance and cooperation for the initiative.
Gomez highlighted that Gambian authorities had been closely monitoring TETFund’s activities and achievements over the years through various media channels. This observation influenced The Gambia’s decision to create a similar agency to support higher education institutions within the country.
Furthermore, Gomez emphasized the importance of effective collaboration between TETFund and THET Fund, especially in research and capacity development. He noted that such collaboration could enhance diplomatic relations between Nigeria and The Gambia, given their shared location in the West African region.
In response, Echono welcomed the Gambian delegation and expressed appreciation for the visit. He provided an overview of TETFund’s history, noting its evolution from the original Education Trust Fund (ETF). Echono explained that TETFund was established due to the significant challenges facing Nigeria’s tertiary education sector more than three decades ago, leading to the development of an alternative funding source for tertiary institutions.
Echono further detailed that, until the introduction of the new Development Levy by President Bola Tinubu’s administration in 2026, TETFund’s funding primarily came from a three per cent Education Tax on the accessible profits of companies registered in Nigeria. He clarified that only public tertiary institutions were beneficiaries of the Fund.
He outlined TETFund’s focus on addressing the critical needs of tertiary institutions, including infrastructure for teaching and learning, instructional materials and equipment, research and publication, and academic staff training and development, among other areas.