The Government of The Gambia has announced plans to undertake a study tour of Nigeria’s Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), as part of efforts to strengthen its newly established higher education funding agency.
Pierre Gomez, Gambia’s minister of higher education, research, science and technology, announced the plan on Monday when he led a delegation to the office of Sonny Echono, TETFund executive secretary, at the fund’s headquarters in Abuja.
Speaking during the visit, Gomez said the purpose was to inform TETFund about the establishment of Gambia’s Tertiary and Higher Education Trust (THET) Fund, which he described as a replica of Nigeria’s TETFund.
He said officials of the THET Fund would soon embark on a study tour of Nigeria and sought TETFund’s assistance and cooperation for the visit.
According to the minister, Gambian authorities have followed TETFund’s activities and achievements over the years through its website, social media platforms and other media channels.
He said the experience informed the decision to establish a similar intervention agency to support higher education institutions in The Gambia.
Gomez also called for stronger collaboration between TETFund and the THET Fund, particularly in research and capacity development.
He said such cooperation would further strengthen diplomatic relations between Nigeria and The Gambia, especially given their shared position as West African countries.
Responding, Echono welcomed the Gambian delegation and expressed appreciation to the minister for the visit.
He briefed the delegation on the history and evolution of TETFund, noting that the agency had transformed from its original establishment as the Education Trust Fund (ETF).
According to him, TETFund was established in response to the funding crisis that confronted Nigeria’s tertiary education sector more than three decades ago.
He said the challenges necessitated the Federal Government and other stakeholders to develop an alternative source of funding for tertiary institutions.
Echono explained that, until the introduction of the new Development Levy by the administration of President Bola Tinubu in 2026, TETFund was primarily funded through a three per cent education tax on the assessable profits of companies registered in Nigeria.
