By Joy Odor
The President of the Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU), Dr. Smart Olugbeko, has commended the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) for its exceptional performance under the leadership of Arc. Sonny Echono.
Dr. Olugbeko made the remarks during a courtesy visit by Nigerian students from Colleges of Education.
The students had come to thank COEASU for its role in securing the Federal government’s approval of the Dual Mandate for Colleges of Education, granting them degree-awarding status.
Dr. Olugbeko praised TETFund’s transparency and efficiency in disbursing funds to tertiary institutions and its commitment to supporting tertiary education in Nigeria.
He also commended the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, for his transformative activities in the Ministry and support for the implementation of the Dual Mandate.
Dr. Olugbeko reaffirmed COEASU’s commitment to supporting students’ welfare and interests and charged them to shun evil acts and remain good ambassadors of their institutions.
On the degree awarding status for Colleges of Education, Dr. Olugbeko asked the students to appreciate the President, His Excellency, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for signing into law the bill that grants degree awarding status to Colleges of Education and for the president’s positive disposition towards payment of teaching practice stipend to students and lecturers.
Dr. Olugbeko revealed that the implementation is being worked out by the Federal Government while TETFund has been identified as a critical stakeholder in the implementation.
“The involvement of TETFund in the implementation process of the Teaching Practice stipend is a guarantee of its successful execution.
“TETFund under the leadership of Arc. Sonny Echono has transformed into a beacon of excellence in public service, and the major source of running public tertiary institutions in Nigeria.
“We are proud to associate with the Fund. We have every confidence that TETFund will bring its characteristic efficiency and transparency to the process of the implementation of the disbursement of the stipends when the time comes” Dr. Olugbeko said.
The COEASU President thanked the students for their visit and reaffirmed the Union’s commitment to supporting their welfare and interests.
He assured them that COEASU would continue to work tirelessly to ensure that their concerns are addressed and their needs are met.
Earlier, the Students’ Spokesperson, Comrade Ahmed Akande, commended the COEASU leadership for its efforts in ensuring the realisation of the Dual Mandate in Colleges of Education.
He charged the leadership of the Union to ensure that the Federal government pays students on teaching practice monthly stipends, just like their counterparts in Engineering and Medicine who receive stipends during industrial attachment or housemanship.
