The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) says it has temporarily suspended foreign training programmes.

The Chairman, TETFund Board of Trustees, Aminu Bello Masari, based the suspension on high foreign exchange rates, rising cost of overseas training, and the trend of some scholars to abscond while overseas.

Masari explained that funds for the foreign training programmes had been channeled into special interventions that would be impactful.

‘Due to high foreign exchange rates and the rising cost of overseas training – as well as the unfortunate trend of some scholars absconding – TETFund has had to temporarily suspend foreign training programs.

“Instead, we are channeling resources into impactful special interventions, which we believe will yield significant dividends in the near future,” he stated.

Speaking during the commissioning of five projects worth N7 billion at the Ikot Akpaden and Obio Akpa campuses of Akwa Ibom State University, Masari revealed that the institution has so far benefited from TETFund’s interventions to the tune of N14billion within 15 years.

The Chairman commended AKSU for judicious use of funds, saying TETFUND will continue to provide interventions in tertiary institutions so they can contribute to national growth and development.

“Since 2010, Akwa Ibom State University has consistently benefited from TETFund’s interventions. From 2010 to 2025, the University has received a total allocation of 14,476,013,835.31 (Fourteen billion, Four hundred and Seventy six million, Thirteen thousand, Eight Hundred and thirty five Naira, thirty one kobo only) specifically for infrastructure-related projects under the Annual, Special, Zonal, and Special High-Impact intervention lines.

“Of this amount, a substantial portion has already been accessed, with only about N2.67 billion (Two billion, Sixty Seven million Naira only) outstanding for access as ongoing projects reach maturity and completion.

“This is a remarkable achievement. With sustained judicious use of these funds, I am confident that the University will continue to position itself as a beacon of academic excellence and research, not only within this region but globally.

“The projects we are here to commission today are five (5) in number, with a total cost of N7,306,029,318.52 (Seven Billion, Three hundred and Six million, Twenty nine thousand and Three hundred and Eighteen Naira, Fifty two kobo only),” he stated.

While speaking, the Vice Chancellor, AKSU, Prof. Nse Essien, listed the projects commissioned to include the Faculty of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Physical Sciences, Faculty of Engineering, Faculty of Management Sciences, and the Faculty of Agriculture’s Laboratory and Classroom/Administrative buildings consisting of 189 new offices, 51 classrooms, 40 state-of-the-art laboratories and 237 restrooms among others.

Nse commended TETfund for the projects saying they would enable more advanced research and laboratory work, prepare scientists and public health experts to tackle regional and worldwide issues as well as promote innovation, hands-on learning, and the advancement of STEM education among others.

“Permit me to respectfully draw your attention to the fact that, despite having structural completion, the Faculty of Biological Sciences and the Faculty of Agriculture are still unfurnished.

“We humbly request that the TETFund and other development partners take into account furnishing these amenities in order to facilitate complete academic operations and functionality.

“We also request further TETFund interventions in other areas like ICJ development, digital libraries, postgraduate research infrastructure, and student hostels in both campuses of the University,” he appealed.

On his part, the immediate past Pro-Chancellor of the institution, Senator Udoma Udoma, commended TETFund for the projects conceived and implemented during his tenure as the Pro-Chancellor, and urged the management to take proper are of them.

(Daily Trust)