The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has allocated N30 billion for disbursement to six universities, six polytechnics and six colleges of education under its 2023 special high-impact intervention.

TETFund executive secretary, Sonny Echono, disclosed this on Thursday at a news conference in Abuja during a breakdown of the 2023 intervention budget of N320 billion recently approved by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Mr Echono said each of the six beneficiary universities would get N3 billion, while each of the six selected polytechnics and six colleges of education would receive N1 billion.

”For this year, six universities, six polytechnics and six Colleges of Education (COE) will benefit from the special high-impact project. Ibrahim Babangida University, Lapai; Federal University Wukari, Taraba; Federal University Birnin-Kebbi; Imo State University of Agriculture and Environmental Science; Edo State University and the Federal University of Technology, Akure, are to get N3 billion each,” stated Mr Echono.

He added, ”Federal Polytechnic, Offa, Kwara; Federal Polytechnic, Gombe; Federal Polytechnic Kabo, Kano; Anambra State Polytechnic; Federal Polytechnic of Oil and Gas, Bonny; and Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology, Igboora, are to get N1 billion each. Also, Plateau state COE; Federal COE, Yola; Federal COE, Zaria; Enugu state COE; Delta state COE, and Tai Solarin COE are to get N1 billion each.”

According to him, the intervention seeks to massively inject funds into selected tertiary institutions to achieve a major turnaround through programme upgrade and improvement in the teaching and learning environment.

On other intervention lines, Mr Echono disclosed that N500 million had been allocated to some selected COEs from the six geopolitical zones for the micro-teaching laboratory.

He listed them as Federal COE, Otukpo, Benue State; Federal COE Jama’are, Bauchi; Federal COE, Sokoto; Federal COE Isu, Ebonyi; Federal COE, Ekiadolor, Edo; and Federal COE, Iwo, Osun. He added that N2 billion had been allocated to teaching practice projects in the COEs, while N1 billion was allocated to establish a diaspora centre that would be instituted at the University of Ibadan.

Mr Echono said the other area of support for the special intervention was students’ hostels.

“Many of you have seen the deplorable accommodations our students live in. For a number of years now, we have commenced these interventions, and we will encourage schools because we believe the hostels are one of the areas where private sector funding can be attracted,” the TETFund boss explained. “Last year, we released intervention in 20 institutions and the hostels have been completed. Another 20 institutions are ready this year, that is one of the importance of the special impact project.”

Mr Echono added that 95 per cent of the N320 billion TETFund’s disbursement for 2023 would go directly to beneficiary tertiary institutions.

He said the remaining five per cent of the allocation would be used for staff salaries and allowances, project monitoring and zonal capital projects.

According to him, 62 per cent of the total disbursement (representing N198 billion) constituted the institutions’ annual direct disbursement, while 20 per cent of the disbursement (representing N64.2 billion) is for special disbursement.

He also mentioned that 10 per cent (representing N32 million) would go for approved designated projects in the institutions, while the remaining three per cent would be for stabilisation fund.

(NAN)