The President of the Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU), Dr. Smart Olugbeko, has commended the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) for its exceptional performance under the leadership of Arc. Sonny Echono.
Dr. Olugbeko made the remarks while addressing a group of Nigerian students from Colleges of Education who paid a courtesy visit to the COEASU leadership in Abuja.
The students, who represented various institutions across the country, had come to thank the leadership of the Union for its giant roles towards Federal government’s approval of the Dual Mandate for Colleges of Education, which grants Colleges of Education degree-awarding status.
The students’ spokesperson, Comrade Ahmed Akande, commended the COEASU leadership for its efforts in ensuring the realisation of the Dual Mandate in Colleges of Education.
He however, charged the leadership of the Union to ensure that the Federal government pays students on teaching practice monthly stipends, just like their counterparts in Engineering and Medicine who receive stipends during industrial attachment or housemanship.
On the degree awarding status for Colleges of Education, Dr. Olugbeko asked the students to appreciate President Bola Tinubu, for signing into law the bill that grants degree awarding status to Colleges of Education and for the president’s positive disposition towards payment of teaching practice stipend to students and lecturers.
He revealed that the implementation was being worked out by the Federal Government while TETFund has been identified as a critical stakeholder in the implementation.
“The involvement of TETFund in the implementation process of the Teaching Practice stipend is a guarantee of its successful execution. TETFund under the leadership of Arc. Sonny Echono has transformed into a beacon of excellence in public service, and the major source of running public tertiary institutions in Nigeria.
“We are proud to associate with the Fund. We have every confidence that TETFund will bring its characteristic efficiency and transparency to the process of the implementation of the disbursement of the stipends when the time comes.
“TETFund handles huge sum of money every year and has been very transparent in the disbursement of the funds to tertiary institutions. It is one organisation that is not afraid of inviting the academic staff unions: COEASU, ASUU and ASUP to be involved in the monitoring of its activities when many organisations become hypertensive whenever they see the unions.
The unions have been able to provide critical feedback to the TETFund which has reflected in the efficiency of its operations. Thus, TETFund has transformed into one of the best-run government institutions in Nigeria, demonstrating remarkable focus, transparency, and proactiveness”, he said.
Dr. Olugbeko stated that The Fund’s commitment to supporting tertiary education in Nigeria was laudable and its impact was being felt across the country.
The President of COEASU also commended the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, for his transformative activities in the Ministry.
He specifically praised the Minister for his support towards the implementation of the Dual Mandate in Colleges of Education, which had been a game-changer for teacher education in Nigeria.
He further thanked the students for their visit and reaffirmed the Union’s commitment to supporting their welfare and interests. He assured them that COEASU would continue to work tirelessly to ensure that their concerns were addressed and their needs were also met.
“We are committed to supporting the development of tertiary education in Nigeria, and we will continue to work with all stakeholders to achieve this goal,” Dr. Olugbeko said.
He therefore charged the students to shun evil acts and remain good ambassadors of their institutions. “As teachers in training, you must demonstrate the good qualities of teachers in all your endeavours,” he reminded them.
