Tertiary Education Fund (TETFUND) has suspended foreign academic scholarships for academic staff of public universities, polytechnics and Colleges of Education (COEs) with effect from January 1, 2025.
Executive Secretary of TETFUND, Arch Sonny Echono, announced this in a November 25th, 2024 circular to all Vice Chancellors, rectors and provosts of beneficiary institutions.
The circular, however, said, “Scholars already enrolled in foreign institutions will continue to draw down on their scholarship up to the end of their respective programmes.”
Echono attributed the suspension “to the current cost of training in foreign institutions and the high rate of abscondment of scholars.”
The ES advised institutions benefitting from the programme to prioritise their training needs for implementation locally in Nigeria, adding that “it is expected that this will conserve and reduce pressure on the foreign exchange rate, boost investment and local capacity in our institutions, while significantly increasing the number of beneficiaries of the intervention.
The circular also directed the heads of benefitting institutions to bring the suspension of the foreign scholarship to the attention of their staff and ensure compliance.
