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NANS sets up committee on TETFund projects

Published

6 years ago

July 12, 2019

Funmi Lawrence

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has set up a committee to verify projects awarded by TETfund from 2009 till date.

This was in view of the N208 billion approved by President Muhammadu Buhari for 2019 TETFund allocation for public tertiary institutions.

NANS National President, Mr Danielson Akpan, made this known at a news conference in Abuja on Friday.

Akpan said the committee was set up with a view to ascertaining the existence or not of such projects and to also discover institutions that were in the habit of diverting TETfund interventions or executing substandard projects.
According to him, Nigeria’s education sector over the years has been on the decline.

“The state of infrastructures in our campuses is nothing to write home about.
” Efforts by successive governments to address this obvious decline has met with sabotage by very many of the academic managers whose responsibility it is to ensure the development of our citadels of learning.

“This is no longer acceptable hence the need to do the needful, bearing in mind that funding is a major issue militating against the development and growth of our tertiary institutions.

” One cannot chide away from the fact that many agencies set up by government to intervene over the years have been doing so with alacrity, no doubt some of these agencies have performed abysmally.

“Sadly however, it has come to our knowledge that many beneficiaries of the agency have overtime sabotaged interventions against the very projects they applied to undertake,” he said.

Akpan added that:”It is time to come open to save the education sector and members from the continuous poor and lack of essential facilities on the campuses.
“Our investigation so far reveals that there is clear unexplainable diversion of funds meant for projects on our campuses.

” In many places where such projects are executed, they are either substandard or clearly abandoned. This unholy collaboration between school managements and contractors must stop.

“We can no longer accept substandard infrastructures or diversion of project funds meant for the revitalisation of our tertiary institutions.”

He thanked Buhari for the timely and well thought out decision of releasing the fund while calling on school managers to judiciously utilise, manage and appropriate the funds for the purposes it is meant for.

He also called for an increase in the current education tax of 2 per cent being remitted by corporate entities saying this is no longer sufficient to address myriads of problems in tertiary education sector.

“This is a reality we must all accept. We call on government to increase the education tax to 5 per cent from the current 2 per cent, just as it is in other climes.
“We have begun consultations on this and soonest, our advocacy on the increase in education tax shall reach all quarters,” he said.

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Nigeria’s Historic Bid for the 2030 Commonwealth Games: A Call for National and Global Support

Published

6 days ago

September 30, 2025

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

Nigeria is poised to make history as it seeks to host the Centenary Commonwealth Games in 2030, a monumental opportunity that promises to transform the nation’s economy, infrastructure, and global standing.

More than a sporting spectacle, the Games would serve as a catalyst for development across multiple sectors, leaving behind a legacy of national pride and sustainable growth.

The benefits of hosting the Games extend far beyond the sports arena. Nigeria stands to gain both empirical and non-empirical advantages, with direct, indirect, and induced impacts that will touch every corner of society. Infrastructural development will take center stage, with new facilities such as indoor sports halls, conference centers, and improved road networks reshaping urban landscapes while strengthening the nation’s capacity to host future international events.

Economic growth is another significant dividend. Over 10,000 jobs are expected to be created, spanning construction, facility management, event planning, and tourism services.

The hospitality industry will undergo major improvements as hotels and resorts are upgraded to meet international standards, while local restaurants, lounges, and tourist attractions will see a surge in patronage from international visitors. Small and medium enterprises, particularly in the transport, finance, and food service sectors, will become some of the greatest beneficiaries, as the Games generate new demand and expand opportunities for local businesses.
The Commonwealth Games will also accelerate the growth of Nigeria’s sports industry.

Investments in training facilities, coaching, and talent development will inspire a new generation of athletes, ensuring long-term benefits that extend beyond 2030, a major focus of the President Bola Tinubu administration.
At the same time, the process of preparing for the Games will create opportunities for Nigerians to learn new crafts, acquire technical skills, and engage in global-standard event management, thereby strengthening human capacity and innovation across industries.

Mallam Shehu Dikko, Chairman of the Nigeria Sports Commission, and Hon. Bukola Olopade, the Director General, have been widely recognized for their tireless and visionary leadership in repositioning Nigeria’s sporting sector.

Their commitment to facilitating infrastructural development and strengthening grassroots sports development has laid the foundation for Nigeria’s bold bid to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games. Under their leadership, the NSC is fostering strategic partnerships and driving innovation in sports administration, they have demonstrated the nation’s readiness to stage an event of such global magnitude.

Beyond the tangible gains, the hosting of the 2030 Commonwealth Games carries profound symbolic value. It would be a moment of unity and pride, a chance for Nigeria to showcase its cultural richness, resilience, and excellence to the world.
As a centenary edition, the Games would stand as a historic milestone not just for the Commonwealth but for Nigeria itself, cementing its place on the global stage as a capable, ambitious, and forward-looking nation.

The gains from hosting the Commonwealth Games can never be undermined or overemphasized. This is Nigeria’s time to step forward and show the world our resilience, and excellence. We call on every Nigerian, across sectors and communities, to support this noble aspiration.

Nigeria’s pursuit of the 2030 Commonwealth Games is a vision for transformation, a blueprint for national development, and a legacy project that will inspire generations to come.

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