By Felix Khanoba
The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has been honoured with the 2024 Anthology Visionary Award, recognizing its exceptional leadership in promoting technological advancements in education.
According to Abdulmumin Oniyangi, Director of Public Affairs at TETFund, this accolade highlights the agency’s notable efforts in incorporating technology into the curricula and teaching practices of Nigeria’s public tertiary institutions.
The award presentation took place at the Orlando World Center in the United States, attracting over 2,000 international academic leaders.
In his acceptance speech, TETFund’s Executive Secretary, Arc. Sonny Echono, underlined that the agency’s work is in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which aims to modernize Nigeria’s education system and ensure that students gain digital proficiency by graduation.
On October 17, 2023, the Federal Ministry of Education, led by Prof. Tahir Mamman, launched the Tertiary Education Research and Application Systems (TERAS) and Beneficiaries Identity Management System (BIMS) at a ceremony in Abuja. This initiative, a collaborative effort by TETFund, Anthology, and Blackboard, is designed to foster an inclusive educational environment, boost research and teaching capabilities, and enhance student services across Nigerian universities.
Echono emphasized the critical importance of digital literacy in today’s educational and employment sectors. He noted that while many nations have successfully integrated digital skills into their education systems, Nigeria faces obstacles such as outdated curricula, undertrained educators, and limited infrastructure, which leave graduates less equipped for technology-driven job markets.
To tackle these challenges, TETFund is aiding over 280 public tertiary institutions with a strategic plan that includes curriculum updates, educator training, global partnerships, and the creation of a National Center of Excellence for Digital Literacy and Emerging Skills.
At the ceremony, attendees were updated on TETFund’s progress in adopting learning management systems and enhancing student information management through advanced technological solutions.
