The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has announced plans to launch a new electric campus transportation scheme in November, aimed at easing mobility challenges faced by students across Nigerian tertiary institutions.
Executive Secretary of TETFund, Sonny Echono, made this known on Wednesday during a courtesy visit by a delegation of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), led by its National Secretary, Shedrack Anzaku, at the Fund’s headquarters in Abuja.
Echono explained that the initiative, which will kick off with 12 pilot campuses, aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s directive to enhance student welfare and create a more inclusive and innovative learning environment.
“Students currently face many risks and spend so much time moving around campuses, especially those who live off-campus. From next month, we will be launching electric student shuttle services in selected institutions. The vehicles will be managed by students themselves to ensure accountability and sustainability,” he said.
He added that the electric shuttles would operate with designated charging points on each campus, while the cost per ride would remain minimal and affordable for students.
According to Echono, the project is part of a broader intervention plan to address key challenges such as accommodation, power supply, and learning infrastructure across tertiary institutions.
“The president challenged us to improve the conditions under which our students study—from hostels and classrooms to how they commute. We are massively investing in student hostels across 72 institutions and will begin commissioning more projects from December,” he said.
Echono also revealed that TETFund is scaling up its support for research laboratories, digital learning systems, and sustainable energy projects, aimed at strengthening higher education and making it globally competitive.
“We are building multi-purpose research laboratories across universities in Kano, Port Harcourt, Lagos, and Abuja so that Nigerian researchers can conduct world-class research without having to send samples abroad,” he stated.
On student welfare, the TETFund boss reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring that every Nigerian child, regardless of background, has access to quality education and financial support through the National Student Loan Scheme, administered by NELFUND.
“We are institutionalising funding to make sure every willing Nigerian child gets the opportunity to learn and succeed. The government is refocusing the fund to serve the interests of Nigerian students,” Echono added.
In his remarks, NANS National Secretary, Shedrack Anzaku, commended the TETFund management for its transformative projects across campuses, noting that the Fund’s interventions have significantly improved educational infrastructure and learning facilities nationwide.
