The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has announced that it will stop funding foreign scholarships for academic staff starting January 1, 2025. This decision was shared in a letter dated November 25, 2024, signed by TETFund’s Executive Secretary, Sonny Echono.
TETFund said the decision was due to two main issues:
- The rising cost of training scholars abroad.
- Some scholars abandoning their programs after receiving funding.
The organization believes this change will help save money and reduce pressure on Nigeria’s foreign exchange reserves.
In the letter, TETFund asked universities and other institutions to focus more on training academic staff locally. The goal is to strengthen Nigerian schools and give more people access to training without the high cost of studying abroad.
Scholars already studying abroad with TETFund sponsorship will continue to receive funding until they finish their programs. However, no new foreign scholarships will be offered from 2025.
By focusing on local training, TETFund hopes to benefit more academic staff and build stronger institutions within Nigeria. This change is part of their plan to make the scholarship program more effective and impactful.