NUJ Seeks Stronger Partnership With TETFund To Boost Education Sector

The President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Alhassan Yahya, has called for closer collaboration with the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) to strengthen support for Nigeria’s education sector.

Mr Yahya made the appeal during a visit to the Executive Secretary of TETFund, Sonny Echono, in Abuja.

He praised the agency’s role in revitalising tertiary institutions and said the union was satisfied with the execution of projects across the country.

“The union has consistently monitored the agency’s activities and is satisfied with the implementation of projects nationwide,” he said, adding that the visit was aimed at strengthening institutional ties and improving public awareness of education interventions.

The NUJ president proposed a joint inspection tour of selected tertiary institutions across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.

He said the tour would allow journalists to independently assess projects and report on their impact.

He also suggested quarterly briefings between both organisations to provide feedback and improve transparency.

Mr Yahya further sought support for the International Institute of Journalism, an NUJ-owned training institution, and for the union’s planned 2026 Media Summit in Abuja, which he said would focus on education funding and national security.

In response, Mr Echono said sustained investment and public trust were essential to addressing infrastructure and research gaps in Nigeria’s tertiary education system.

He said TETFund was created to reverse declining academic standards and restore confidence in higher institutions, at a time when infrastructure deficits and the loss of skilled personnel were major concerns.

While noting progress through government-backed intervention programmes, Mr Echono said challenges remained, particularly in physical infrastructure, research facilities and utilities such as electricity.

He said public communication of the Fund’s projects was key to sustaining national support and expressed readiness to deepen collaboration with the NUJ, including sponsoring staff to attend the International Institute of Journalism.

Mr Echono also thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for continued federal backing, saying government support had strengthened the Fund’s ability to stabilise institutions.

PR Oduyemi Odumade