The Tertiary Education Trust Fund, TETFUND, says it has committed more than N30 billion this year to reinforce security across Nigeria’s universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education—an investment it describes as essential to ensuring safe learning spaces nationwide.
TETFund’s Board of Trustees Chairman, Alhaji Aminu Masari, announced the development in Katsina, noting that the intervention has already improved safety for students, lecturers, and campus communities.
The former Katsina State governor explained that the funding stream was deliberately created as a dedicated security line in response to rising concerns about safety on campuses.
Masari stated that the initiative mirrors President Bola Tinubu’s directive to strengthen Nigeria’s education system by prioritising both safety and academic quality.
According to him, the administration’s support has enabled TETFund to back institutions seeking to install solar-powered streetlights, build perimeter fences, and deploy other measures to deter intruders and enhance night-time visibility.
He highlighted that increased demand for security-related interventions shows that tertiary institutions now place greater emphasis on ensuring protective measures for their students and staff.
Masari added that the Fund’s capacity to support these requests is expected to expand further following Tinubu’s approval of a 50 per cent Development Levy captured in the 2024 Nigerian Tax Bill.
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The levy, scheduled to take effect in January, is projected to significantly increase financial inflows into TETFund.
The BoT chairman also spoke about a recently held town hall meeting convened by TETFund to engage stakeholders across the tertiary education sector.
The forum, he said, brought together policymakers, lawmakers, lecturers’ unions such as ASUU, vice-chancellors, student representatives and other actors to discuss ongoing projects and areas requiring further intervention.
Masari explained that the gathering served as both an accountability platform and an avenue for policy input, helping the Fund design interventions that reflect diverse needs across the sector.
He noted that feedback from such engagements strengthens the agency’s operational strategies and ensures that its activities remain aligned with current realities in tertiary education.
Beyond improving security, Masari emphasised that TETFund remains committed to positioning Nigeria’s tertiary institutions to compete globally.
This includes supporting research, enhancing manpower development, and enabling infrastructural upgrades.
He maintained that a secure environment is the foundation for academic excellence, adding that safety concerns must be addressed before institutions can fully deliver on their mandates.
According to him, TETFund’s investment marks a renewed push to protect campuses and reinforce public confidence in the country’s higher education system.
