TETFund To Introduce Electric Shuttle Service To 12 Campuses

The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has announced plans to launch an electric shuttle service across 12 universities and colleges in November to improve transportation for students.

The initiative is part of efforts to modernize campus mobility and promote sustainability in Nigeria’s tertiary education system.

TETFund’s Executive Secretary, Sonny Echono, revealed the plan in Abuja during a visit by the leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), led by its National Secretary, Shedrack Anzaku. Echono said the new shuttle scheme aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s directive to enhance the welfare and learning conditions of students nationwide.

The electric vehicles, which will operate within campuses, are expected to reduce commuting time and costs for students, especially those living off-campus. Echono said charging stations would be installed across participating institutions, with the service run and managed by students for transparency and long-term sustainability.

According to Echono, the shuttle project forms part of TETFund’s broader plan to address major challenges in tertiary institutions, including accommodation, power supply, and inadequate infrastructure. He disclosed that massive investments are being made in student hostels across 72 institutions, with new facilities set for commissioning in December.

Echono also said TETFund is expanding support for research laboratories, digital learning, and sustainable energy projects to make Nigerian universities more competitive globally. He noted that new multi-purpose research laboratories are being established in Kano, Port Harcourt, Lagos, and Abuja to enable local researchers to carry out advanced studies without sending samples abroad.

He reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to ensuring equal educational opportunities for all Nigerian students through the National Student Loan Scheme, now managed by the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFund).

During the visit, NANS National Secretary Shedrack Anzaku praised TETFund’s ongoing interventions, describing the agency as a key pillar in improving campus infrastructure. He said many university facilities across the country exist today because of TETFund’s contributions.

Anzaku also commended Echono’s leadership and his engagement with student leaders, while NANS North-Central Coordinator, Husseini Ebu, urged the agency to sustain its support for underfunded institutions.

In recognition of his efforts, NANS presented Echono with an award of excellence and passed a vote of confidence on TETFund’s management for its continued role in advancing education and student welfare in Nigeria.