In a bid to address mobility challenges faced by Nigerian students, the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) has announced plans to inaugurate a new electric campus transportation scheme across selected tertiary institutions beginning in November.
The Executive Secretary of TETFUND, Sonny Echono, made this known on Wednesday in Abuja during a courtesy visit by a delegation of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), led by its national secretary, Shedrack Anzaku.
Mr Echono revealed that the initiative would commence in 12 pilot campuses as part of President Bola Tinubu’s directive to enhance student welfare through innovation and sustainability.
“Students currently face many risks and spend so much time moving around campuses, especially those who live off-campus. From next month, we will be launching electric student shuttle services in selected institutions. The vehicles will be managed by students themselves to ensure accountability and sustainability,” Mr Echono said.
According to him, the electric shuttles will feature designated charging points on each campus, with minimal ride costs to guarantee affordability. The project also aligns with broader government efforts to improve student accommodation, power supply, and learning infrastructure across Nigerian tertiary institutions.
“The president challenged us to improve the conditions under which our students study, from hostels and classrooms to how they commute. We are massively investing in student hostels across 72 institutions and will begin commissioning more projects from December,” he added.
Mr Echono further disclosed that TETFUND was scaling up support for research laboratories, digital learning systems, and sustainable power projects to boost the global competitiveness of Nigeria’s higher education system.
“We are building multi-purpose research laboratories across universities in Kano, Port Harcourt, Lagos, and Abuja, so that Nigerian researchers can conduct world-class research without having to send samples abroad,” he said.
On student welfare, the TETFUND boss reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring that every Nigerian child—regardless of background—has access to quality education through the National Student Loan Scheme, now managed by NELFund.
“We are institutionalising funding to make sure every willing Nigerian child gets the opportunity to learn and succeed. The government is refocusing the fund to serve the interests of Nigerian students,” he stated.
In his remarks, NANS National Secretary, Shedrack Anzaku, commended TETFUND’s leadership for initiating transformative projects that continue to improve campus infrastructure and student welfare nationwide.
TETFUND Launches Electric Campus Transport to Ease Students’ Mobility — an initiative that not only supports greener campuses but also promises safer, more efficient mobility for Nigeria’s growing student population.
