The Federal Government has announced plans to construct student hostels in 36 tertiary institutions nationwide, with a commitment to building more once the initial phase is completed.
Sonny Echono, the Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), made this announcement during a meeting with the newly elected leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), led by President Lucky Emonefe, according to a statement released by TETFund in Abuja.
Echono highlighted an increased allocation for the maintenance of TETFund infrastructures over the next five years in the 2024 intervention cycle. He also promised to explore the possibility of constructing a NANS secretariat, subject to approval from the Ministry of Education.
Additionally, Echono emphasized the importance of involving students in monitoring projects across beneficiary institutions and addressing the pressing issue of student housing in higher education institutions.
He stated, “This year, we will provide hostels for students in 36 tertiary institutions across the country, aiming to ensure that at least 50 to 60 percent of students can reside on campus comfortably. These hostels will be of high quality to rival international standards.”
Echono commended NANS for its constructive engagement and assured continued support, emphasizing that students are central to any educational initiative.
Furthermore, he encouraged students to utilize TETFund’s digital services platform, Tertiary Education Research, Applications, and Services, to access educational resources and research materials.
In response, NANS President Lucky Emonefe expressed gratitude for the increased budget allocation to TETFund and praised President Bola Tinubu’s dedication to education development in Nigeria. Emonefe pledged NANS’s commitment to supporting TETFund’s projects and safeguarding educational infrastructure.
Senator Ned Nwoko, a member of the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TetFund, also attended the meeting, reaffirming the committee’s support for Nigerian students.
