By Gom Mirian
Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Campus France on collaboration in the areas of joint research and promotion of innovation, training of qualified Nigerian academics in French higher educational institutions, scholars/students exchanges and support for French language immersion programmes.
TETFund Executive Secretary, Arc. Sonny S.T. Echono signed the agreement on behalf of the Fund recently in Paris while at an event tagged: “Nigeria Days in France”.
The event organized by the French Embassy and Campus France was to strengthen the bilateral cooperation between Nigeria and France in the fields of higher education and research, which has the full support of the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs.
Director, of Public Affairs of the Fund, Mr. Abdulmumin Oniyangi in a statement on Tuesday said Campus France would assist in facilitating the placement of TETFund scholars in specialized institutions in France at very low tuition; particularly in the areas of Science, Technology, and Engineering which are germane to the technological and economic development of Nigeria.
He said the programme would also expose scholars to world-class facilities, and encourage collaboration between French and Nigerian scholars in carrying out cutting-edge research and innovation, while also providing opportunities for students and staff exchange.
Meanwhile, Arc. Sonny. Echono expressed delight at the partnership and stated that drawing from the success recorded in similar partnerships between Campus France and the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF), he was confident of the positive outcomes derivable from the agreement, especially given the high global ranking of participating institutions and the cost advantage, compared with similar institutions in the United Kingdom and the United States.
