By Kwin Israel, The Sight News
The Government of the Republic of The Gambia has announced plans to undertake a study tour to Nigeria’s Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), one of the country’s foremost intervention agencies for higher education.
The announcement was made on Monday when The Gambia’s Minister of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology (MoHERST), Hon. Prof. Pierre Gomez, led a high-powered delegation to TETFund’s headquarters in Abuja for a meeting with the Fund’s Executive Secretary, Arc. Sonny Echono.
Speaking during the visit, Prof. Gomez explained that the trip was aimed at formally briefing the Executive Secretary on the establishment of The Gambia’s Tertiary and Higher Education Trust (THET) Fund — a body modelled on TETFund — and at securing the Fund’s support and cooperation ahead of an upcoming study tour to Nigeria by THET officials.
He noted that Gambian authorities had, over the years, closely followed TETFund’s work through its website, social media platforms and other media channels, and had concluded that a similar agency was needed to support tertiary institutions back home.
The Minister stressed the importance of strong collaboration between the two agencies, particularly in research and capacity development, adding that such partnership would further strengthen diplomatic relations between Nigeria and The Gambia as neighbours within the West African region.
Receiving the delegation, Executive Secretary of TETFund, Arc. Sonny Echono, welcomed the Gambian team and expressed appreciation for the visit. He gave an overview of TETFund’s history, tracing its evolution from its original establishment as the Education Trust Fund (ETF).
He explained that TETFund was created in response to a critical funding crisis that confronted Nigeria’s tertiary education sector over three decades ago, prompting the Federal Government and key stakeholders to develop an alternative funding mechanism for public institutions.
The Executive Secretary added that until the introduction of the new Development Levy under President Bola Tinubu’s administration in 2026, TETFund had been funded through a 3% Education Tax on the assessable profits of companies operating in Nigeria, with only public tertiary institutions eligible as beneficiaries.
Highlighting some of the Fund’s achievements over the years, Echono noted that its interventions are targeted at addressing critical institutional needs, including physical infrastructure for teaching and learning, instructional materials and equipment, research and publication, and academic staff training and development, among other areas essential to maintaining standards in higher education.
Other members of the Gambian delegation included Ms. Isatou Auber, Permanent Secretary, MoHERST; Dr. Samba Sowe, Deputy Permanent Secretary (Technical), MoHERST; and Ms. Ndey Anta Taal, Project Coordinator, CPCU, Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs.
