Tinubu, Ododo, Malagi, Masari, Echono, Others Get Commendation as North Central Stakeholders Seek Greater Tertiary Education Funding

By Abah Benjamin Eneojoh
Government House, Lokoja
August 20, 2026

Dr. Abdulrahman Hassan Ocholi, Member representing the North Central Zone on the Board of Trustees of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, TETFund, has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo of Kogi State, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris Malagi, Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, and the leadership of TETFund for their support towards the development of tertiary education.

Ocholi spoke on Thursday at the 2026 TETFund North Central Stakeholders’ Town Hall Meeting held in Lokoja, Kogi State, where he said the engagement was designed to promote dialogue, accountability and collaboration among TETFund, beneficiary institutions, governments, students, traditional rulers, host communities and other stakeholders.

He thanked President Tinubu for his commitment to tertiary education under the Renewed Hope Agenda and commended Governor Ododo for hosting and supporting the meeting. He also appreciated the Chairman of the TETFund Board of Trustees, Rt. Hon. Aminu Bello Masari, the Executive Secretary, Arc. Sonny Echono, the Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, traditional rulers, heads of tertiary institutions and other participants.

Ocholi highlighted TETFund interventions in academic staff development, research, innovation, entrepreneurship, digital transformation, postgraduate scholarships and infrastructure, including investments in emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, robotics, coding and renewable energy.

He, however, said the challenges facing tertiary institutions went beyond physical infrastructure, stressing the need for greater investment in modern teaching facilities, research, innovation, digital technology, entrepreneurship and graduate employability.

Stakeholders at the meeting also called for stronger collaboration between tertiary institutions and industries, increased funding for TETFund, improved accountability in the utilisation of intervention funds and greater attention to the peculiar educational needs of institutions in the North Central Zone.

The meeting resolved to sustain stakeholder engagement and promote practical, solution driven research in agriculture, mining, healthcare, manufacturing, technology, renewable energy and security.

A communiqué containing the resolutions was presented to Governor Ododo, who handed it over to the Minister of Information and National Orientation for onward transmission to President Tinubu.

The stakeholders also passed votes of confidence in the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume; Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa; Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris; TETFund Board Chairman, Aminu Bello Masari; and Executive Secretary, Arc. Sonny Echono.

Ocholi expressed optimism that the engagement would strengthen collaboration and help position tertiary institutions in the North Central Zone to produce the skills, knowledge and innovations required for sustainable national development.