The Tertiary education trust fund (TETFUND) has put on hold foreign component of its scholarship for academic staff across the nation’s tertiary institutions.
A circular dated 25th of November and signed by the Executive Secretary of TETFUND, which was sent to heads of tertiary institutions said the decision becomes imperative going by the excessive cost of training and increasing rate of abscondment of scholars trained in the foreign lands after the completion of their studies.
The circular enjoined the beneficiary institutions to prioritize their training locally, which according to the agency will not only reduce pressure on the foreign exchange but also widening the scope of the training to accommodate more beneficiaries. It also notes the move will boost investment and local capacity in the nation’s institutions.
Recalled that TETFUND has been grappling with multiple cases of abscondment in the recent years, thus, the decision is coming as a reactionary measure to curtail sharp practices among scholars.
The circular specifically stated that the effective date of the implementation of suspension on further foreign component will be 1st of January 2025, adding however that scholars already enrolled will continue to draw down on their sponsorship until the end of their programmes.