Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) Research Team, on a mission to assess the qualitative and quantitative impact of TETFund intervention in Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike, Ebonyi State, paid courtesy call on the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Chinedum Nwajiuba. Receiving the team in his office, Prof. Nwajiuba assured the team of the co-operation of the University staff and students in providing all information required and the enabling environment for the success of the ongoing exercise, and further wished them fruitful stay in the university.


VC, Prof. Nwajiuba (Centre) in group photograph with the Research Team and Dr. Ezeocha(1st frm left)

The team later arrived the University Senate Chamber for the commencement of the assignment and were warmly received by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academic, Prof. Sunday Elom, on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor, in the presence of the University Registrar, Mrs Odisa Okeke, Director Academic Planning, Professor Chukwunonso Ejike, Director, French Centre and TETFund Desk Officer, AE-FUNAI, Dr. Nnenna Nwosu-Nworuh, Director Physical Planning, Works and Services, Dr. A.I. Ezeocha, amongst others.

Leader of the Research Team and Quality Control Officer Prof. Suleiman Dangana Abdul, introduced other members of the team which included Dr. Tukur Hassan (Researcher) and Dr. Umar Aminu Muhammed (Research Assisstant), reiterating that the aim of the visit was to have Focused Group Discussions with staff and students of the University, to evaluate the impact of TETFund in the young University. Work started in earnest with interaction sessions which involved DVC, Academic, various Professors, Directors, Heads of departments, and Units.


TETFund Team in group photograph with DVC Elom and some University Officers

While relating with the researchers, Dr. Nwosu-Nworuh informed them that TETFund has made impact in the University, pointing out that a number of academic and non-academic staff of the University have benefitted immensely from TETFund intervention scheme. She added that so far 114 non-academic and 81 academic staff have benefitted from Conferences, Workshops, and Seminar sponsored by TETFund.

Barr. Adekola, Head of Administrative Unit, Centre for Entrepreneurship and Employability, AE-FUNAI, informed the visiting team that the Centre was created in 2015 following NUC guidelines adding that the Centre has a number of programs for training students through which sufficient knowledge is imparted on them to improve their business communication skills in both vocational and technical aspects. The whole idea, according to him, is to prepare the students well enough to face the world market after school, to be self employed and possibly employers of labour.

At the close of the Focus-Group Discussion, Prof. Elom, said that with what is happening, Nigerian University Education System is advancing in AE-FUNAI and other Universities in Nigeria as a result of TETFund Intervention. He thanked staff for their co-operation by releasing relevant information to the group, thereby making it easier for the research team to make their analyses and provide reliable and useable data.


TETFund Research Team in group photogragh with SUG officers

The TETFund team also had sessions with SUG (Student Union Government) and some students during which they pointed out that TETFund was set up to make sure students are properly educated under a conducive learning environment, so they could grow to become good citizens and contribute to the nation’s growth and development. During the interactive session, SUG President, Mr. Solomon Chima stated that TETFund has been active in the University but that the young institution needed more intervention projects, such as provision of more desks and chairs for the classrooms, construction of more laboratories and building of more female and male hostels. He did not hesitate to inform the team that most lecturers who travelled out for further studies under TETFund sponsored programs, improved greatly in their lecturing.


SSANU Officers in group photograph with TETFund Research Team

The researchers also interacted with Officers and members of other unions in the University, including Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), Non Academic Staff Union (NASU),who rated TETFfund Intervention in the University high, acknowledging that some of them are beneficiaries of TETFund but appealed that notwithstanding its positive impact in the University, TETFund should do more for Universities and other institutions to move the Nigerian Educational System to greater heights. The research which started on Tuesday 3rd December, with courtesy call on VC, lasted till Tuesday, 10th December, 2019.


TETFund Team in group photograph with NAAT Officers


TETFund Team in group photograph with NASU Officers