- TETFund suspended its foreign scholarship component due to rising training costs and high abscondment rates, effective January 1, 2025
- Institutions are advised to focus on local training needs, enhancing academic capacity and reducing pressure on foreign exchange reserves
The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has suspended its foreign scholarship component under the TETFund Scholarship for Academic Staff (TSAS) Intervention.
The decision, attributed to rising overseas training costs and increasing cases of abscondment, will take effect from January 1, 2025.
This was disclosed in a letter signed by TETFund’s Executive Secretary, Arc. Sonny Echono addressed the heads of beneficiary institutions, including vice-chancellors, rectors, and provosts.
The letter, dated November 25, 2024, stated:
“In response to the current excessive cost of training in foreign institutions, coupled with the high rate of abscondment of scholars, the Board of Trustees of the Fund has approved the suspension of the foreign component of the TETFund Scholarship for Academic Staff (TSAS) Intervention.”
Institutions have been advised to prioritize local training needs, ensuring the programme is implemented within Nigerian institutions.
Echono emphasized that this shift is intended to reduce pressure on foreign exchange reserves, enhance investment in local academic capacity, and expand the number of beneficiaries.
He further clarified that scholars currently enrolled in foreign institutions under the programme will continue to receive sponsorship until they complete their studies.
This move reflects TETFund’s strategic focus on optimizing resources and strengthening local education systems to achieve a broader impact.
Discussion about this post