TETFund set to launch electric campus transport scheme to ease student mobility challenges

The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has announced plans to introduce a new electric campus transportation system designed to tackle the mobility challenges faced by students across Nigerian tertiary institutions.

This innovative project is scheduled to commence in November, initially rolling out to 12 pilot campuses nationwide.

Sonny Echono, Executive Secretary of TETFund, revealed the initiative during a courtesy visit by the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) delegation, led by National Secretary Comrade Shedrack Anzaku, at the TETFund headquarters in Abuja.

Highlighting the pressing difficulties students encounter commuting around campuses especially those residing off-campus Echono explained that the electric shuttle service aims to provide safe, efficient, and affordable mobility.

“Students currently face numerous risks and expend significant time moving within and around their campuses.

”Starting next month, we will be launching electric student shuttles in selected institutions.

”The vehicles will be managed by the students themselves to ensure accountability and sustainability,” he stated.

The electric vehicles will operate with designated charging stations strategically placed across campuses, ensuring accessibility and ease of use.

Echono emphasised that rides would be offered at minimal costs to maintain affordability while promoting environmental friendliness and innovation.

This transportation initiative is part of a broader TETFund strategy aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s directive to enhance the overall welfare and learning environment of Nigerian students through innovative and inclusive solutions.

Echono noted that beyond transportation, the government is making substantial investments in student hostels, power supply, and learning infrastructure across the country.

“We are heavily investing in student accommodation across 72 tertiary institutions, with many projects slated for commissioning starting December.

”The President has challenged us to improve the conditions under which our students study not just classrooms and hostels but also their daily commute,” Echono added.

Furthermore, TETFund is scaling up support for research infrastructure, digital learning tools, and sustainable energy projects to elevate the quality of higher education in Nigeria to global standards.

Among these are multi-purpose research laboratories being developed in universities located in Kano, Port Harcourt, Lagos, and Abuja.

These facilities aim to empower Nigerian researchers to conduct cutting-edge studies domestically without the need to send samples overseas.

On the matter of student financial welfare, Echono reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring access to education for all Nigerian children, irrespective of their background, through enhanced funding schemes such as the National Student Loan Scheme, now overseen by the Nigerian Educational Loan Fund (NELFund).

“We are institutionalizing funding mechanisms to guarantee that every willing Nigerian child can access learning opportunities and succeed.

”The government is refocusing these funds to prioritize Nigerian students’ interests,” he said.

In response, Comrade Shedrack Anzaku, NANS National Secretary, commended TETFund for its transformative projects, which have significantly improved infrastructure and learning conditions across campuses nationwide.

“Without TETFund, many of the facilities we now enjoy in our institutions would not exist.

”We salute Echono for his visionary leadership and dedication to prioritizing students’ welfare,” he said.

Anzaku also disclosed that NANS has passed a vote of confidence in Echono’s leadership, describing him as a father and mentor who maintains continuous engagement with student leaders, fostering peace and progress within the education sector.

Echoing this praise, Husseini Ebu, NANS North-Central Coordinator, lauded TETFund’s impact on institutional development and urged the agency to maintain and increase its funding efforts to ensure sustainable growth in campus infrastructure.

“We see the TETFund’s mark across our institutions. The structures built have revolutionized the learning environment.

”We encourage you to continue so that children from less privileged backgrounds can remain in school and learn with dignity,” he said.

To recognise his contributions, NANS presented Echono with an award of excellence for his dedication to educational development and student welfare in Nigeria, further reinforcing their confidence in TETFund’s management.