By Joy Odor | Owo, Ondo State | October 26, 2025
In a bold reaffirmation of its commitment to revitalizing Nigeria’s tertiary education infrastructure, the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has revealed that it has invested over ₦8.18 billion in direct interventions at Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo (RUGIPO), Ondo State.
The disclosure was made by Rt. Hon. Sunday Adeyemi Adepoju, TETFund Board of Trustees member representing the South-West, during the commissioning of five landmark projects valued at ₦1.72 billion over the weekend in Owo.
Adepoju commended the polytechnic’s management past and present for its prudence and transparency in executing projects, noting with satisfaction that no TETFund-sponsored project has been abandoned or left distressed on the campus.
“From inception till date, Rufus Giwa Polytechnic has accessed ₦5.57 billion out of the ₦8.18 billion allocated to it for infrastructure-based projects. The remaining ₦2.61 billion is already committed to ongoing works,” Adepoju said, describing the feat as evidence of institutional diligence and accountability.
But the TETFund board member also used the occasion to sound a stern warning to State Governments, decrying the proliferation of poorly funded tertiary institutions.
“TETFund is an interventionist agency, not a primary financier. States must stop creating new institutions they cannot fund. Our role is to bridge funding gaps—not carry the entire burden,” he cautioned.
Adepoju disclosed that the TETFund Board had recently approved supplementary allocations to help beneficiary institutions complete stalled or distressed projects, reaffirming the agency’s zero-tolerance policy for abandoned projects.
According to him, “Our resolve is to sustain and improve interventions so our institutions can deliver globally competitive teaching and research infrastructure. We are focused on ensuring Nigerian tertiary institutions rank among the best in the world.”
Representing the TETFund Executive Secretary, Arc. Sonny S.T. Echono, the Director of Monitoring and Evaluation, Arc. Babatunde Olajide, echoed similar sentiments, describing the completed projects as a “testament to shared commitment” to quality education.
Echono, in his remarks, acknowledged that economic volatility and rising market costs have slowed project delivery timelines but lauded institutions that have remained “resilient, frugal, and focused” in executing their mandates despite inflationary pressures.
“We are aligning with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda by supporting innovations that will make our tertiary institutions hubs of technical excellence and research relevance,” Echono stated.
He also revealed that the Fund had recently engaged directly with institutions facing financial distress, devising targeted interventions to accelerate project completion nationwide.
The TETFund delegation to Owo included Alhaji Abdulmumuni Oniyangi (Director, Public Affairs), Engr. Tunde Olakunri (Director, Executive Secretary’s Office), Dr. Olushola Ojo (South-West Zonal Office), and Dr. Abosede Bello (Physical Infrastructure Department).
The newly commissioned projects, described as “iconic and transformative”, are expected to significantly enhance learning, research, and student welfare at Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, solidifying its reputation as one of the fastest-developing state-owned polytechnics in the South-West.
