The Acting Executive Secretary of Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Malam Aliyu Na’iya, said the agency spent N574.5 billion to support 201 institutions from 2003 to date.
Na’iya made this known at the 2013 Ministerial Platform on the Mid-term report on President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration in Abuja on Friday.
He said funds were disbursed to 78 Federal and State Universities, 60 Federal and State Polytechnics and 63 Federal and State Colleges of Education.
Na’iya said, “TETFund is the key agency for actualising a four-year strategic plan of the President Goodluck Jonathan’s Administration in focal areas of funding, partnerships, resource mobilisation and utilisation.’’
He said the agency initiated the construction of micro-teaching laboratories in 58 institutions, including all Federal Colleges of Education, one State College of education and the FCT.
Na’iya said the agency released N4.7 billion for the initial for the provision of infrastructure for each of the new federal universities.
He said the agency also enabled the nine new federal universities to commence full academic activities with the exception of three new that would commence academic activities in 2014.
“To support Access and Quality, TETFund is actively involved in the development and rehabilitation of infrastructure, including halls, lecture theatres and laboratories.
“It provided classrooms libraries, workshops and integration of ICT into teaching and learning and built capacity for the development of academic and non-academic staff,’’ he said.
He said the agency also provided multimedia micro-teaching laboratories for 58 Federal and State Colleges of Education.
Na’iya said that the agency also supported the establishment of the Almajiri Model Schools under the Tsangaya System of Education.
The executive secretary said the agency carried out Needs Assessment in Public Universities (Federal and State) by assessing staff and student population in relation to facilities.
He said the agency’s recent interventions included the e-Library development in unity colleges and teaching practice for teachers in colleges of education.
“TETFund will continue to prioritise support for the actualisation of the transformation agenda, through the four-year Strategic Plan of improving access and quality of education at tertiary levels.
He said it would also support institutions in ensuring that they produce individuals with the competence to drive diverse sectors of the economy and enhance Nigeria’s global competitiveness.
