NUJ Seeks Stronger Partnership with TETFund, Advocates Increased Funding for Tertiary Education

NUJ Seeks Stronger Partnership with TETFund, Advocates Increased Funding for Tertiary Education

The National President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Comrade Alhassan Yahya, has called for a strategic partnership with the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) to advance educational development in Nigeria.

Yahya made the call on Monday while leading a delegation on a courtesy visit to the Executive Secretary of TETFund, Sonny Echono, in Abuja.

He commended the agency for its role in revitalising tertiary institutions across the country and pledged deeper collaboration to enhance public awareness of interventions in the education sector.

“The union has consistently monitored the agency’s activities and is satisfied with the execution of projects in institutions nationwide,” Yahya said.

He explained that the visit was aimed at strengthening institutional partnership and exploring ways both organisations could work together to advance national development through improved education outcomes and informed public engagement.

The NUJ president appreciated the Executive Secretary for what he described as commendable performance in implementing intervention programmes across the country. He noted that the union’s leadership deemed it necessary to engage directly with the agency to boost visibility for its activities and ensure Nigerians are better informed about developments in tertiary education.

According to him, the NUJ is proposing a joint inspection tour of selected tertiary institutions across the six geopolitical zones to assess executed projects and showcase their impact. He explained that the tour would involve visits to selected states in each zone, enabling journalists to independently observe interventions and communicate their significance to the public.

Yahya disclosed that the union had previously passed a vote of confidence in the agency’s leadership and advocated increased federal funding for TETFund, stressing that the timely release of funds remains essential to sustaining intervention programmes.

He added that the proposed collaboration would also include joint public sensitisation on ongoing projects to help Nigerians appreciate the scale of work being undertaken in tertiary institutions.

The NUJ president further appealed for support for the International Institute of Journalism (IIJ), the union’s training institution dedicated to strengthening professional standards and improving journalism practice in Nigeria.

He also proposed structured quarterly briefings between the NUJ and TETFund to enable journalists to provide feedback from field observations and contribute constructive input to support the Fund’s operations.

Yahya additionally sought TETFund’s support for the NUJ’s planned 2026 Media Summit in Abuja, which he said would bring together academia, policymakers and other stakeholders to deliberate on issues of education funding and national security as they relate to the development of the sector.

He expressed optimism that stronger collaboration between the media and TETFund would enhance public understanding of education interventions and contribute to national progress.

In his response, Echono said Nigeria’s tertiary education system requires sustained investment, public trust and stronger institutional support to overcome infrastructure and research gaps.

He explained that TETFund was established to halt the decline in academic standards and restore confidence in the nation’s universities and other higher institutions.

“The creation of the Fund was intended as a targeted response to reverse declining standards, strengthen institutional capacity and incentivise growth in the education sector, particularly at a time when many skilled personnel were leaving and infrastructure deficits had become severe,” he said.

While noting that considerable progress has been made through sustained government support and structured intervention programmes, he acknowledged that significant challenges persist across institutions.

Echono identified deficiencies in physical infrastructure, research facilities and the overall conditions for teaching, learning and research as areas requiring continued investment. He stressed that addressing these gaps demands long-term commitment and consistent funding.

He stated that evidence of ongoing interventions is visible in institutions where facilities have been constructed, upgraded or rehabilitated to improve academic delivery.

According to him, communicating these achievements to the public is vital to building confidence in the system and sustaining national support for continued investment in tertiary education.

On collaboration with the media, Echono said the Fund engages journalists through coverage of project commissioning activities and academic publications that support institutional development. He also expressed readiness to support the IIJ by sponsoring staff to enrol in the institution and developing broader collaboration with the union to enhance national visibility.

He identified rising electricity costs as a major challenge, noting that institutional allocations are often insufficient to cover utility expenses for extended periods. He explained that such constraints have compelled the Fund to intervene in essential infrastructure beyond academic facilities, including power supply systems, access roads and water provision, to sustain institutional operations.

Echono expressed appreciation to Bola Ahmed Tinubu for continued federal backing of the education sector, noting that sustained government support has strengthened the Fund’s capacity to implement critical interventions and stabilise institutions facing structural challenges.

“The sustainability of tertiary education depends not only on infrastructure development but also on broader policy support, stakeholder collaboration and consistent national commitment to education financing,” he said.

He thanked the visiting delegation for the engagement and reaffirmed the Fund’s commitment to supporting institutions in addressing structural challenges, improving academic standards and sustaining progress in Nigeria’s tertiary education system.