Education

TETFund Boss Echono Bags PhD in Public Governance and Leadership

Published

1 year ago

July 27, 2025

Jeph Bisi

The Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Sonny Echono, has been awarded a doctoral degree in Public Governance and Leadership by the Abuja Leadership Center (ALC) at the University of Abuja.

Echono’s academic achievement follows his successful thesis defense on July 18, 2025, fulfilling the requirements for the doctorate programme.

After the thesis defense and the conferment of the doctoral degree, Prof. Philip Dahida, the Director of the Center, commended Echono for his excellent presentation, courage, and relentless effort in navigating the challenges of the doctorate programme despite his busy schedule as a public office holder in Nigeria.

Prof. Dahida praised the Post Graduate School of the university, as well as the external and internal examiners, and the staff of the Center. He assured everyone of the institute’s commitment to equip the elite and ruling class in the country with essential knowledge in governance, leadership, and policy.

“I congratulate the Executive Secretary of TETFund for demonstrating excellence and successfully defending his research work. He has shown capacity and dedication, even amidst the sensitive and demanding position he holds in the country,” said Prof. Dahida.

He further commended the leadership of the Post Graduate School, both internal and external examiners, and the entire staff of the Center for their roles in making this achievement possible. “Rest assured, the Abuja Leadership Center is committed to supporting high-profile candidates and helping them achieve their best through education. Our doors are open as we continue to advance education among the elite and ruling class,” he added.

In response to receiving the doctorate award, Echono expressed gratitude to the institution for fulfilling its mandate of enhancing the knowledge base of citizens. He revealed that the knowledge acquired from the doctorate programme is critical in addressing issues related to the selection processes in universities, which have become significant sources of conflict across the country.

Echono urged those in leadership positions, especially in the public sector, to be transparent and inclusive in their decision-making, while stating that his research is relevant to moving the nation forward.

“The surest way to create a better country and university system for young people is to prioritize public interest over personal ambitions and short-term goals,” he emphasized.

He stated, “The knowledge I’ve gained during my research is directly relevant to the selection processes, which have caused conflicts between governing councils and university administrations, as well as between ministries and governing bodies. There persist issues of localization and the influence of politics and nepotism. By implementing a transparent and accountable template that involves stakeholders, while also incorporating checks and balances and rewarding performance, we can make progress.”

Echono further noted that applying this knowledge can enhance university rankings, allowing institutions to become globally relevant and better equipped to fill skills gaps. This, in turn, would produce graduates who are employable or capable of creating jobs.

“For our leaders, it is crucial to adopt a more transparent and inclusive approach—engaging everyone in decision-making processes. Leaders should consider long-term interests rather than personal or short-term gains. If we implement these changes, we will build a better country and university system that our youth can be proud to inherit,” Echono concluded.

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Education

Igbinedion University, EduTech Global Partner On Digital Education, Access

Mr. Femi Shonubi, Co-Founder/CTO – EduTech Global

Published

2 months ago

August 18, 2026

The Gleamer

Cyril Ogar

Igbinedion University, Okada, one of Nigeria’s leading private universities, has entered into a strategic partnership with EduTech Global to accelerate its digital learning ambitions, expand access to its academic programmes to students in the country.

Through the partnership, EduTech will provide digital learning infrastructure and technology support for the University’s Distance Learning Centre (DLC), thereby enabling learners to access quality university education beyond the conventional campus environment.

The partnership reflects Igbinedion University’s ambition to remain competitive in a rapidly evolving higher education landscape by combining its academic heritage with technology, innovation and new models of learning that contribute to national workforce development.

Speaking on the partnership, the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Lawrence Ezemonye, said the collaboration represented a significant step in the university’s ambition to produce graduates equipped for national and global impact.

He said: “At Igbinedion University, our mandate has always been to lead in producing graduates equipped for national and global impact. This partnership with EduTech Global represents a bold step into the future of higher education in Nigeria.
“By expanding our digital learning infrastructure, we are not just breaking down geographical barriers; we are actively contributing to national workforce development by ensuring that quality, industry-aligned education is accessible to every driven learner, regardless of location.”

In his remarks, Director, Igbinedion University Distance Learning Centre, Prof. Gideon Bawa, said the university was motivated by the opportunity to transform its existing processes, which hitherto were being handled manually, and build a more efficient and scalable distance learning model.

The Director clarified: “The growth recorded by institutions that have leveraged EduTech’s technology and expertise was a major factor in our decision to engage the company. We are confident that this partnership will position Igbinedion University to achieve significant growth in enrolment while strengthening the quality and efficiency of our Distance Learning Centre.”

“With this partnership, we expect to move most of our administrative and academic activities online through EduTech. This will improve efficiency, enhance the learner experience and allow our facilitators and students to engage more effectively through a connected digital learning environment”, Bawa added.

Commenting on the collaboration, Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer, EduTech Global, Femi Shonubi, pointed out that technology had been redefining the boundaries of what a university can offer, adding that EduTech’s role extends beyond putting courses online.

Shonubi expatiated: “Technology’s true value lies in its ability to drive tangible socio-economic impact through education. By dismantling physical boundaries, we are empowering institutions like Igbinedion University to democratise access to high-quality learning. This is about more than online courses; it is about developing a resilient, highly skilled workforce at scale to meet the demands of the modern economy.

“We are helping institutions build connected learning ecosystems that support the student journey from application and enrolment through learning, assessment and graduation. Igbinedion University’s ambition to lead in innovative education aligns strongly with what we are building at EduTech.”

General Manager, Edutech Global, Moyosore Asubiojo said the partnership arises as demand grows for flexible higher education among working professionals, entrepreneurs and learners seeking alternatives to traditional full-time campus education.

She asserted that by combining Igbinedion University’s academic competence with EduTech’s technology capabilities, the collaboration will create new pathways to quality education and workforce development while enabling the University to expand beyond its traditional geographical footprint.

Analysts believe that the partnership between the university and the tech company represents a shared commitment to making higher education more accessible, flexible and scalable, while positioning the university to compete and lead in the next generation of technology-enabled education in Nigeria and globally.

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