The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has announced a suspension of foreign scholarships for lecturers in Nigerian tertiary institutions, effective January 1, 2025, citing concerns over high rates of scholars abandoning their programmes abroad and rising costs.
In a circular dated November 25, 2024, signed by TETFund’s executive secretary, Sonny Echono, the agency outlined that the decision was based on escalating costs and the frequency with which scholars are absconding.
“In response to the excessive cost of training in foreign institutions, coupled with the high rate of abscondment of scholars, the board of trustees of the fund has approved the suspension of the foreign component of the TETFund Scholarship for Academic Staff (TSAS) Intervention,” the statement read.
Mr. Echono noted that the shift would enable TETFund to allocate more resources within Nigeria, reduce foreign exchange pressures, and boost local capacity for academic training.
“The suspension will deepen efforts to save resources while reducing pressure on the foreign exchange rate and boosting investment and local capacity in Nigerian tertiary institutions,” Echono stated.
In place of foreign scholarships, TETFund is now urging beneficiary institutions to implement training within Nigeria, aiming to increase the overall number of scholars.
The move is intended to channel more resources towards local educational development, potentially benefiting a greater number of academics and reducing dependency on overseas programmes.
In a recent session before the House of Representatives, Echono revealed that over 4,980 scholars received TETFund support worth N10.8 billion from June 2023 to July 2024, funding master’s, doctoral, and post-doctoral programs. However, he highlighted that at least 137 lecturers had absconded during their studies, leaving their programs to pursue other opportunities abroad.
Mr. Echono voiced concern over this trend, which he said has seen many educationists use the scholarship program as a stepping stone to “Japa” – a Nigerian term for emigrating in search of better opportunities. The growing issue has underscored the need for policies that safeguard the country’s educational investments, which are often lost to foreign systems when scholars fail to return.
