Chukwu Obinna 
ABUJA, Nigeria – Nigeria’s Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has deployed more than ₦30 billion to strengthen security infrastructure across universities, polytechnics and colleges of education since January, in what officials describe as the country’s most aggressive safety investment in years.
TETFund Board Chairman, Aminu Masari, said on Tuesday that the intervention reflects a decisive shift in the agency’s priorities as institutions confront rising threats endangering students and academic staff. “And academic staff need a safe environment to carry out their activities,” Masari said, stressing that the effort aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to securing learning spaces nationwide.
Masari said institutions have submitted an influx of applications for perimeter fencing, solar-powered street lighting, and other safety upgrades. He noted that President Tinubu’s approval of a 50 per cent Development Levy, to take effect from January under the 2024 Tax Bill, would further expand TETFund’s intervention capacity.
The chairman added that a recent stakeholder town hall allowed the agency to receive feedback to refine its operations. The meeting brought together lawmakers, vice-chancellors, students, ASUU leaders and policymakers. “We share ideas, receive suggestions, and work toward a more inclusive TETFund that reflects the interests within the tertiary education sub-sector,” he said.
Masari said the goal is to ensure Nigerian institutions strengthen research competitiveness, improve infrastructure quality and enhance global rankings. With insecurity disrupting learning across parts of the country, he emphasised that safe campuses are the foundation for producing skilled graduates capable of driving national development.
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