Ododo Urges TETFund to Turn Research into Solutions

Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, has challenged the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) to deepen its investment in research and innovation capable of providing practical solutions to Nigeria’s developmental challenges.

Governor Ododo made the call on Thursday at the 2026 TETFund North Central Stakeholders’ Town Hall Meeting held at the Glass House of the Kogi State Government House, Lokoja. The meeting had as its theme: “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 of prosperous societies, stressing that investment in the sector remains one of the most enduring investments any nation can make. He said, “Every prosperous nation is first built in the classroom before it is built in the marketplace,” adding that education develops the human mind, promotes innovation and equips citizens to address contemporary challenges.
Ododo urged TETFund to allocate 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 helping governments and industries transform the North Central’s agricultural, mineral and human resources into food security, industrial growth, employment and sustainable prosperity.
He commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for strengthening TETFund under the Renewed Hope Agenda, noting that the Federal Government’s commitment reflects an understanding that education is not merely a social service but a strategic investment in national development.
The Governor also praised TETFund for its interventions in infrastructure, research, academic staff development and institutional capacity building. He assured that Kogi State would continue to provide an enabling environment for programmes aimed at strengthening 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 shortly after his appointment. He described the initiative as a demonstration of purposeful leadership, accountability and commitment to tertiary education.
He noted that bringing together Vice Chancellors, Rectors, Provosts, education commissioners, students, traditional rulers and other stakeholders would help generate practical solutions to the challenges facing the sector. According to him, no single institution or individual can 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. They also endorsed Governor Ododo for a second term and expressed support for APC governorship candidates across the North Central Zone.
The forum appointed Governor Ododo as Patron of the Group and resolved to commence peaceful grassroots mobilisation. It also commended the Federal Government’s support for TETFund and NELFUND and called for increased funding for TETFund.
Votes of confidence were further passed in the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, 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.