TETFund suspends foreign scholarship for lecturers over ‘high cost, desertion’

The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) says it has suspended the foreign scholarship component of its intervention for lecturers in public tertiary institutions.

TETFund is an intervention agency that provides supplementary support to all levels of public tertiary institutions.

In a statement on Thursday, Abdulmumin Oniyangi, TETFund’s spokesperson, cited the excessive cost of training in foreign institutions as one of the reasons for the suspension of the scheme.

Oniyangi added that the growing cases desertion by scholars during the scholarship is another reason for the suspension.

He added that the suspension of the foreign scholarship will take effect on January 1, 2025.

The TETFund’s spokesperson said scholars who have been enrolled in foreign institutions would continue till the end of their programmes.

“The Board of Trustees of Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has approved the suspension of the foreign component of the TETFund Scholarship for Academic Staff (TSAS) Intervention,” the statement reads.

“The suspension, which is in response to the excessive cost of training in foreign institutions as well as the high rate of abscondment of foreign scholars, is with effect from 1st January 2025.

“However, TETFund scholars who have already enrolled in foreign institutions would continue to draw down on their scholarships till the end of their programmes.

“It is expected that the suspension will conserve and reduce the pressure on the foreign exchange rate, boost investment and local capacity in Nigerian tertiary educational institutions and significantly increase the number of beneficiaries of the intervention.”