The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has announced the receipt of ₦1.6 trillion for various interventions across Nigeria’s tertiary institutions.

Chairman of TETFund’s Governing Board and former Katsina State Governor, Alhaji Aminu Masari, disclosed this on Sunday in Katsina.

He explained that the allocation, the highest in recent years, was sourced from the three per cent education tax on company profits, as provided for in the TETFund Act.

According to Masari, 40 per cent of the sum – ₦460 billion – has been earmarked for interventions in universities, polytechnics and colleges of education nationwide, with one of each institution type selected in every state.

“The interventions are demand-driven. Institutions submit requests, and projects are approved based on their needs and available resources,” he said.

He revealed that ₦225 billion from the allocation had been channelled to the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) to support the Federal Government’s students’ loan scheme. Another ₦70 billion is designated for energy projects, enabling tertiary institutions to develop solar or gas-powered generation facilities.

In addition, ₦25 billion has been set aside to improve campus security, including the installation of street lights and other safety infrastructure.

Masari noted that more than ₦100 billion had already been invested in strengthening medical sciences training in tertiary institutions, part of a strategic effort to address Nigeria’s shortage of healthcare professionals following the recent migration of skilled workers.

“President Bola Tinubu is deeply concerned about the impact of this brain drain and is committed to reversing the trend through targeted policies like these interventions,” he said.

He added that three tertiary institutions in each geopolitical zone had received ₦4 billion each for the expansion of medical sciences facilities and infrastructure, aimed at doubling the number of healthcare professionals, including doctors, nurses, pharmacists and laboratory technicians.

Masari assured the public that TETFund maintains a robust monitoring and evaluation mechanism, supported by consultants, to ensure that disbursed funds are used strictly for approved projects.