Gambian Govt to Understudy TETFund, Seeks the Support of Intervention Agency

In a significant development for higher education in Gambia, the government plans to undertake a study tour of Nigeria's primary intervention agency, the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund). This announcement was made by Gambia's Minister of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology (MoHERST), Pierre Gomez, who led a high-powered delegation to TETFund's headquarters in Abuja.

The delegation was addressed by TETFund's Executive Secretary, Sonny Echono, as reported by TETFund's Director of Public Affairs, Abdulmumin Oniyangi.

The primary objective of this visit was to inform the Executive Secretary about the establishment of Gambia's Tertiary and Higher Education Trust (THET) Fund, a replica of Nigeria's TETFund. This move aims to support higher institutions in the country. The Gambian government has been following TETFund's activities and achievements closely, and it was deemed necessary to establish a similar agency to cater to the needs of Gambian higher education institutions.

Gomez emphasized the importance of effective collaboration between the two agencies, particularly in the areas of research and capacity development. He noted that such cooperation would not only strengthen diplomatic ties between Nigeria and Gambia, but also contribute to the overall growth of higher education in the West African region.

Upon welcoming the delegation, Echono expressed gratitude to the Gambian education minister and his team for their visit, providing a brief history of TETFund. He noted that TETFund's status has evolved over time, transforming from its original establishment as the Education Trust Fund (ETF) in response to a critical crisis that affected the tertiary education sector three decades ago.