By Abah Benjamin Eneojoh
Lokoja
Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo of Kogi State has challenged the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) to deepen its investment in research and innovations that are capable of producing practical solutions to Nigeria’s developmental challenges.
Ododo who made the charge on Thursday declared said this has become necessary because the future of the nation’s economy depends largely on the strength of its educational institutions.
Governor Ododo spoke at the opening of the 2026 TETFund North Central Stakeholders’ Town Hall Meeting held at the Glass House of the Kogi State Government House, Lokoja.
The theme of the meeting is, “The Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, and Its Impact on Tertiary Institutions in North Central Nigeria.”
The governor, who served as Chief Host, described education as the foundation upon which prosperous societies are built.
He stressed that investment in the sector remains one of the most enduring investments any nation can make.
According to him, every prosperous nation is first built in the classroom before it is built in the marketplace.
He said education develops the human mind, unlocks innovation and prepares citizens to solve contemporary challenges.
Ododo particularly urged TETFund to devote greater resources to research in agriculture, mining, healthcare, manufacturing, artificial intelligence, renewable energy and security.
He said tertiary institutions must move beyond theoretical research and become solution centres capable of providing governments and industries with ideas that can translate the North Central’s agricultural, mineral and human resources into food security, industrial growth, employment and sustainable prosperity.
The governor commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for strengthening TETFund under the Renewed Hope Agenda, noting that the Federal Government’s commitment demonstrates an understanding that education is not merely a social service but a strategic investment in national development.
He also praised TETFund for its interventions in infrastructure, research, academic staff development and institutional capacity building, assuring that Kogi State would continue to provide an enabling environment for programmes that strengthen teaching, research, innovation and skills development.
Governor Ododo specially congratulated Dr. Abdulrahman Hassan Ocholi, the TETFund Board of Trustees Member representing the North Central Zone, for initiating the stakeholders’ Town Hall meeting shortly after his appointment.
He described the initiative as a demonstration of purposeful leadership, accountability and genuine commitment to tertiary education.
The Governor noted that bringing together Vice Chancellors, Rectors, Provosts, education commissioners, students, traditional rulers and other stakeholders would help produce practical solutions to the challenges confronting the sector.
He said no single institution or individual could provide all the answers, stressing that progress requires collaboration.
In his welcome address, Dr. Ocholi said the meeting was designed to provide a strategic platform for dialogue, accountability and collaboration among TETFund, beneficiary institutions, governments, students and host communities.
He highlighted interventions under the Renewed Hope Agenda, including academic staff development, innovation and entrepreneurship hubs, research, digital transformation, postgraduate scholarships, infrastructure, robotics and coding facilities, artificial intelligence laboratories and renewable energy projects.
The stakeholders subsequently endorsed President Tinubu for a second term, citing his interventions and reforms in education, and also endorsed Governor Ododo for a second term while supporting APC governorship candidates across the North Central Zone.
The forum appointed Governor Ododo as a Patron of the Group, resolved to commence peaceful grassroots mobilisation, commended the Federal Government’s support for TETFund and NELFUND, and called for increased funding for TETFund.
Votes of confidence were also passed in SGF Senator George Akume, Minister of Education Dr. Tunji Alausa, Minister of Information Mohammed Idris, TETFund Chairman Rt. Hon. Aminu Bello Masari and Executive Secretary, Arc. Sonny St. Echono.
(vitalnewsngr.com)
