As someone who loves to follow what is happening in the education sector, especially matters that affect students and lecturers in Nigeria, I was not too surprised when I heard that TETFund has finally stopped their foreign scholarship programme for lecturers. This news has been going around, and many people have been asking, “Why did they stop it?” or “What happens now?”
TETFund, which stands for Tertiary Education Trust Fund, has helped many lecturers in the past to travel abroad for further studies. They pay for their tuition, flight, accommodation, and other costs so that our Nigerian lecturers can go out, learn more, and come back to teach us better.
But the recent update from the Executive Secretary of TETFund, Mr. Sonny Echono, has changed everything. He explained clearly why the foreign sponsorship programme is no longer possible.
According to him, the high cost of training one person abroad and the fact that many of these scholars refuse to return to Nigeria after completing their studies has forced the agency to suspend the programme.
This decision has raised many questions and concerns — not just from lecturers, but also from students like us who care about the future of our universities.
In this post, I will explain everything I understand about why TETFund stopped sponsoring lecturers to study abroad, what they are planning to do instead, and how this affects students, lecturers, and the Nigerian education system as a whole.
Table of Contents
Why TETFund Stopped the Foreign Scholarship Programme
According to Mr. Sonny Echono, the head of TETFund, there were two main reasons why the scholarship programme for lecturers studying abroad was stopped.
1. The cost is too high
Let me break it down. Before now, TETFund used to pay in foreign currencies like dollars, pounds, and euros to sponsor Nigerian lecturers abroad. But as we all know, the value of the naira has dropped badly.
So, for example, something that cost 10 million naira before may now cost up to 100 million naira because of the exchange rate. Imagine spending nearly 100 million naira just to sponsor one person abroad!
Mr. Echono said this was no longer wise or reasonable. With that same money, TETFund could train more than 8 or even 10 people here in Nigeria. So, instead of spending too much on one person abroad, it is better to help more people here at home.
2. Many lecturers refused to return to Nigeria
This one is even more painful. After the government spends a lot of money to train some of these lecturers abroad, they refuse to come back. They stay back in foreign countries, get jobs there, and forget the students and schools that were waiting for them here.
Meanwhile, their Nigerian universities are still paying them salaries, hoping they will return. This is like using government money to train someone who will not even come back to serve the country. Mr. Echono called it a “double tragedy” — meaning it is a very big loss for Nigeria.
Because of these two reasons — the high cost and the fact that some lecturers do not return — TETFund had to put a stop to the foreign sponsorship programme for now.
What TETFund Is Doing Now Instead
Even though TETFund has stopped sponsoring most lecturers to study outside Nigeria, that does not mean they have stopped helping people. In fact, they are now focusing more on training lecturers within Nigeria.
Mr. Sonny Echono explained that the local scholarship programme is still active, and it is even getting better. According to him, the amount of money that would train just one person abroad can be used to train up to ten lecturers here in Nigeria. This means more people will benefit, and the money will go further.
So, instead of spending a huge amount to send one person to a country like the United Kingdom or the United States, the money can now be used to support many lecturers in Nigerian universities and polytechnics. TETFund believes this is a smarter and more effective way to improve education in our country.
Mr. Echono also said that the quality of local training is improving, and many Nigerian institutions are now offering postgraduate courses that can match international standards. This is a big step forward for Nigeria's education system.
But that is not all...
When TETFund Can Still Approve Foreign Scholarships
Even though TETFund has stopped the general foreign scholarship programme, there are still some special cases where they can approve it.
Mr. Echono explained that if a particular course is not available in any Nigerian university, then the applicant can be given a waiver. This means TETFund can allow that person to study outside the country, but only in very rare and important situations.
For example, the Nigerian aviation university was recently given approval to send some of their staff abroad. This is because they offer new and specialised courses that are not yet taught in Nigeria.
TETFund also looks at how important the course is to Nigeria’s development, how useful it is to the school, and if it will help solve any national problems. If the answer is yes, they can consider giving support.
So, to be clear, TETFund did not cancel foreign training completely. They are just being more careful and selective to make sure the money is not wasted.
How Nigerian Students and Lecturers Will Be Affected
This new decision by TETFund will affect both lecturers and students in different ways.
For lecturers, it means that most of them will now be trained in Nigeria instead of going abroad. This can help more lecturers to upgrade their knowledge because it is cheaper and easier to sponsor more people locally. Some lecturers who dream of travelling abroad might feel disappointed, but those who are truly committed to learning will still benefit from the local training.
For students, the effect will be seen in the quality of teaching they receive. Since more lecturers will be trained and supported inside Nigeria, it will help schools to have better-qualified teachers. This can improve classroom teaching and research.
However, in the short term, students may miss out on the international exposure their lecturers used to bring from abroad. For example, when a lecturer returns from studying in countries like the UK or Canada, they usually come back with new ideas, better teaching methods, and international connections. Without this foreign experience, it might take longer for Nigerian schools to reach global standards.
But if the local training is well organised and updated, students will still benefit greatly.
Pros and Cons of TETFund’s Decision
Just like everything in life, this decision comes with its good and bad sides.
The Pros (Good Sides):
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More Lecturers Can Be Trained: For the same amount of money, many more people can be trained in Nigeria compared to just a few going abroad.
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Reduced Wastage and Fraud: It stops people who take scholarships and never return. This saves Nigeria from wasting money on unfaithful scholars.
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Local Universities Will Improve: If lecturers stay and train locally, they can help grow the system from within.
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Better Monitoring: It is easier to monitor and evaluate lecturers who are trained within the country.
The Cons (Bad Sides):
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Limited Global Exposure: Nigerian lecturers may lose the chance to interact with foreign scholars and gain global knowledge.
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Slower Modernisation: Some cutting-edge courses and training tools may not be available locally.
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Lecturers May Feel Frustrated: Those who truly deserve to go abroad may feel left out, especially if they cannot get waivers.
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Local Facilities May Be Overloaded: Too many people relying on local training centres may create pressure on facilities.
In summary, the decision is not perfect, but it is more sustainable for now, considering Nigeria’s economic challenges.
Conclusion
As someone who cares about education, I understand that this decision by TETFund was not made lightly. The goal is to make the most of what we have, train more lecturers, and build our universities from the inside. It is not easy to please everyone, but Nigeria must do what is best for the majority.
Even though many people dream of studying abroad, we must not allow that dream to waste millions of naira, especially when those people do not come back to serve the country. If this plan is followed properly and schools are given the right support, it will bring more good than harm in the long run.
I still believe that those who truly need foreign training and can be trusted should be given the chance — but only if it will truly benefit Nigeria.
Let us all hope that the money saved will be used wisely to improve our schools, train more staff, and give students better education. I will keep following this story and sharing updates as they come.
Prudent Joshua
Studentportals.com.ng
