The Executive Secretary of Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Arc. Sonny Echono, has called on tertiary institutions in the country to produce entrepreneurs and not just graduates.

Echono made the call in Abuja when the governor of Plateau State, Simon Lalong, paid him a courtesy visit at the Fund’s headquarters.

The TETFund boss said investments in creating entrepreneurs would go a long way to curb the menace of unemployment and consequently tackle the socio-economic problem in the country.

Echono stated that one of his primary goals is to make tertiary institutions a place to produce entrepreneurs, noting that with the support of the Federal Government, TETFund plans to reinforce the huge investments in the 13 new Universities to fast track their rate of progress with a view to achieving the purpose of establishing them.

He added that the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration has given his full support to education, adding: “This is evident in the recent Presidential approval of upward review of Education Tax from 2 per cent to 2.5 per cent, which will enable TETFund cope with increasing demands.”

Echono further expressed optimism that the Education Tax would likely increase to 3 per cent as the government hone in educational investment.

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The investment, Echono emphasised would go into expanding the frontiers of education and the way education is structured in the country.

“The increased tax would facilitate the implementation of more developmental projects in the education sector,” he said.

Earlier in his remarks, Governor Lalong lauded the Fund for the numerous iconic projects in Plateau State, saying TETFund has become a lifeline for tertiary institutions in the state.

The governor expressed optimism that the newly appointed Executive Secretary of the Fund, who he described as an educationist with his track record as Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Education, would keep up the good work of his predecessor, Prof. Elias Bogoro.

Assuring Echono of his support in discharging his duties, Governor Lalong said as the Chairman of the Northern Governors Forum, he would make sure the Executive Secretary gets the support of other northern governors.

The Star