Since assuming office as the Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) in March 2022, Arc. Sonny Echono has initiated major reforms that are reshaping how Nigeria’s tertiary institutions access and manage educational funding.
An architect by training, Echono has applied his administrative expertise to drive what many describe as a digital and transparency revolution within the country’s higher education sector. His leadership has focused on restructuring TETFund’s operations, enhancing accountability, and promoting innovation in universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education across Nigeria.
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In 2024 alone, TETFund collected over N1.5 trillion in education tax, described by the agency as part of the largest education intervention programme in sub-Saharan Africa. Between 2011 and 2024, the fund disbursed more than N1.8 trillion to institutions, marking a period of sustained investment in academic infrastructure and capacity development.
One of the most notable transformations under Echono’s tenure is the complete digitisation of TETFund’s processes. The agency has replaced paper-based systems with electronic platforms, enabling faster application reviews and improved transparency. Institutions can now track the progress of their funding requests in real time, cutting down delays that previously hampered access to support.
“The digitisation has streamlined our operations significantly. What used to take months now happens in weeks,” a senior university official in Lagos said.
The digital shift has also extended to project monitoring. Beneficiary institutions are now mandated to provide electronic progress reports on projects such as lecture halls, laboratories, libraries, and student hostels. This has enhanced oversight and accountability, ensuring that funds are effectively utilised.
Under Echono’s guidance, TETFund has also expanded its support for research and international collaboration. Nigerian researchers are now linked with global networks in fields such as renewable energy, climate change, and healthcare innovation. In 2024, over 2,000 staff members benefited from PhD sponsorships and professional training programmes within and outside the country.
The establishment of innovation hubs and technology incubation centres across campuses further underscores TETFund’s commitment to bridging the gap between academic research and practical application. These centres are designed to promote entrepreneurship, helping students turn research ideas into viable business ventures.
Despite progress, Echono’s administration has faced scrutiny. In April 2024, the Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA) petitioned the ICPC to investigate corruption allegations against TETFund’s leadership. Echono dismissed the claims as exaggerated, insisting that transparency remains central to his reforms.
“The initial impression that TETFund is a cesspool of corruption was an exaggerated one,” Echono stated in July 2024, shortly after being named Champion Newspapers’ Outstanding Public Servant of the Year.
To strengthen accountability, TETFund has introduced stricter quality control for contractors handling its projects. The new system ensures compliance with approved standards and promotes sustainable construction, including the adoption of solar-powered and eco-friendly infrastructure.
Recognising the challenge of youth unemployment, Echono has also prioritised entrepreneurship and employability initiatives. Through business incubation and skill acquisition programmes, TETFund aims to equip graduates with the practical skills needed to thrive in the job market and stimulate self-employment.
As Echono continues his reforms, the fund faces the task of maintaining momentum while proving measurable impact on Nigeria’s higher education outcomes. His recent recognition by the National Association of Academic Technologists in April 2024 as a recipient of its Award of Excellence reflects growing institutional confidence in his vision.
