TETFund helping tertiary institutions to produce global graduates – Echono

The Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Sunny Echono, said the organisation is transforming tertiary institutions in the country to produce graduates that can be globally competitive with the necessary skills and innovation.

Echono who stated this during a visit to INNOVATEHUB in Abuja on Wednesday said building an innovative technology solution in the institution will not only enable graduates to be self-employed but also provide needed workspace for graduates through expertise.

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“So, we need to do things creatively so that we can employ all our youths that are unemployed.

“We can fast track the process and also modernize the training programme that we have to bring them in tune to the needs of industry and the workplace.

“The message that we are spreading across the ECOWAS is to make sure that Nigeria is the hub for innovation, and then we spread out that message across Africa.

“Africa must become competitive, ultimately we have shown this in various spheres through our scholars, product when they go abroad have been able to show that we have a lot to contribute to the global knowledge and economy.”

Echono said currently, Africa is contributing 0.5 to the global economy, adding that it is not a thing to be proud of.

“We must change the dynamics,’’ he stressed.

Echono further stressed the need for collaboration between tertiary institutions and private sectors to groom generations of innovators to give Nigeria global recognition.

On his part, the founder and managing director of INNOVATE HUB, Prof, Gregory Ibe, explained that the organisation is a focal point for innovation, startup incubation, technology transfer and skill impartation.

He said it will help trained professors in tertiary institutions through different programs and initiatives to bring together brilliants mind and gifted hands from across the board.