The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND), few years ago introduced the Tertiary Education Research and Application Systems (TERAS) as a transformative stride to reshape Nigeria’s higher education.
The initiative was recently lauded as a game-changer by the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS).
NANS President, Comrade Lucky Emonefe, who extolled the initiative in a statement from Abuja, emphasised its profound potential to address longstanding challenges within Nigeria’s higher education system.
He said TERAS represents a pivotal step towards revitalising academic infrastructure, fostering research and innovation, and enhancing the overall quality of tertiary education across the nation.
“TERAS is a laudable initiative that aligns perfectly with our goals of promoting quality education, student welfare, and academic excellence,” he remarked passionately.
At its core, TERAS seeks to bolster infrastructure, elevate academic standards, and equip students with the skills necessary to thrive in a dynamic global economy.
Emonefe underscored the significance of this initiative, affirming its potential to bridge infrastructural gaps and propel Nigerian universities towards global competitiveness.
“We appreciate TETFUND’s steadfast commitment to enhancing academic quality and fostering an environment conducive to groundbreaking research and innovation,” he added.
Central to NANS’ endorsement is the call for university administrators nationwide to fully embrace and implement TERAS.
Emonefe further emphasised the imperative for institutions to onboard their students onto the platform and provide robust support mechanisms to ensure its successful execution.
“This includes bolstering infrastructure, providing comprehensive training for educators, and nurturing an enabling ecosystem for research and innovation to flourish,” he articulated, emphasizing the collaborative efforts required to maximize TERAS’ impact.
Anticipating a transformative effect on the sector, NANS anticipates TERAS to yield tangible benefits, including enhanced academic outcomes, increased graduate employability, and heightened workforce readiness among Nigerian graduates.
The NANS president also expressed confidence in TERAS’ capacity to elevate the Nigerian education sector to unprecedented heights, underscoring its potential to drive sustainable development across the nation.
Commending TETFUND’s unwavering commitment to revolutionizing tertiary education in Nigeria, NANS urged sustained governmental support and funding to ensure the initiative’s longevity and efficacy.
Emonefe reiterated NANS’ readiness to collaborate closely with stakeholders to facilitate TERAS’ seamless integration into university systems nationwide, underscoring the imperative of collective action towards realizing Nigeria’s educational aspirations.
As Nigeria charts its course towards educational excellence, TERAS stands poised as a beacon of hope, signaling a transformative era for higher education. With stakeholders united in purpose and vision, the prospects for Nigerian students to thrive academically and professionally have never been more promising.
LEADERSHIP reports that TERAS was typically designed to enhance the quality of tertiary education in Nigeria by focusing on several key areas including equipping students with practical skills and knowledge required for employment and entrepreneurship in the contemporary global economy. This may involve internship opportunities, entrepreneurship training, and career counseling services.
The initiative also seeks to elevate academic standards by promoting effective teaching methods, supporting faculty development programs, and implementing modern educational technologies.
In the area of research and innovation, TERAS encourages and supports research activities among students and faculty. This includes funding research projects, providing access to research facilities, and fostering collaboration with industries and other research institutions.
TETFUND typically collaborates with universities and other stakeholders to implement TERAS by allocating funds and resources to support TERAS projects and initiatives, monitoring and evaluating the impact of TERAS on academic performance, research output, and overall institutional development, amongst others.
