In a performance review meeting held in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, the Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Arc. Sonny Echono, expressed deep concern over the increasing number of beneficiaries who have absconded from foreign institutions.
Echono disclosed that the Fund has initiated measures to address this issue, emphasizing the gravity of the situation.
Addressing questions from journalists, Echono acknowledged the challenge of obtaining accurate data but emphasized the existence of a database tracking individuals who abandoned their programs in foreign institutions.
He stated that the Fund is diligently refining this database with reports submitted by the institutions, revealing that both security agencies and the Fund are closely monitoring the situation.
“Some did not abscond but they exceeded their course period. Some have extensions in their program, but we have a very good idea, and the number is not encouraging. I can tell you that even the security agencies are also becoming interested, and they are looking at that. I don’t want to give figures because it’s alarming. Sadly, this opportunity is being abused,” Echono remarked.
Echono clarified that some beneficiaries, while not officially absconding, have exceeded their stipulated course periods.
He also highlighted cases where individuals returned home without completing the minimum bond period, leading the Fund to consider them as having absconded.
The Executive Secretary revealed that TETFund is actively collaborating with Nigerian embassies, as well as the embassies of the host countries and the respective institutions, to enforce the terms of the agreement and address the issue of beneficiary abscondence.
On a positive note, Echono shared that TETFund has invested nearly N320 billion in various projects across tertiary educational institutions nationwide in 2023.
