TETFund Suspends Foreign Scholarships For Nigerian Lecturers.
The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has announced the suspension of its foreign scholarship programme for lecturers, effective 1 January 2025. The decision, outlined in a circular dated 25 November 2024 and signed by Executive Secretary Sonny Echono, comes as a response to the rising costs of training abroad and concerns over scholars absconding.
The circular stated, “In response to the 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.”
Mr Echono explained that the suspension aims to conserve resources, ease pressure on Nigeria’s foreign exchange, and enhance investment in local tertiary institutions. Beneficiary institutions have been advised to prioritise local training, which is expected to increase the number of lecturers benefitting from the programme.
This decision follows revelations that, between June 2023 and July 2024, TETFund awarded N10.8 billion in scholarships to 4,980 academics for masters, doctoral, and post-doctoral studies. However, at least 137 lecturers reportedly abandoned their studies to pursue other opportunities abroad.
In October, Mr Echono highlighted this trend during an appearance before the House of Representatives, emphasising how some scholars exploit the programme as a gateway to leave Nigeria.
The suspension signals a shift towards strengthening local capacity and ensuring a more sustainable approach to academic staff development in the country.
