The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) yesterday described as alarming the number of its beneficiaries in foreign institutions who have absconded.
The Fund’s Executive Secretary, Arc. Sonny Echono, stated this while answering questions from journalists during the TETFund performance review meeting in Makurdi, the Benue State capital.
He noted that TETFund has a database of those who abandoned their programme in foreign institutions and is doing everything lawful to correct the abnormality.
“We have a database now, which we are refining each time because the institutions are the ones submitting the report, although it is a difficult thing to get the accurate report.
“Some did not abscond but they exceeded their course period. Some have extensions in their programme but we have a very good idea and the number is not encouraging.
“I can tell you that even the security agencies are also becoming interested and they are looking at that.
“I don’t want to give figures because it’s alarming. Sadly, this opportunity is being abused.
“Others have returned home but did not complete the minimum of their bond before deciding to relocate.
“If you are supposed to do four years on your bond before you become free and you do only two, we take you as having absconded,” Echono said.
He, however, said the TETFund was collaborating with Nigerian embassies, the embassies of the country where they (beneficiaries) are and the institutions to enforce the terms of the agreement.
Echono further said Tetfund has expended nearly N320 billion on projects in tertiary educational institutions nationwide in 2023.
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