INFRASTRUCTURAL AND STAFF DEVELOPMENT IN PUBLIC TERTIARY EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS BY THE TETFUND: EVIDENCE FROM KWARA STATE, NIGERIA

The paper examined the contribution of the TETFund to infrastructural and human developments as well as the funding of research by public tertiary education institutions in Kwara State. Since 2011, TETFund has been providing infrastructural and human development, but there is little literature available outside of what the Fund itself has published regarding its activities on both a nationwide and zonal basis. The study was created to investigate the perception of stakeholders in public universities about TETFund’s quantum support for development of these key areas in Kwara State. Three questions were addressed. The mixed-methods design was adopted (both quantitative and qualitative approaches) of the study, while two states sampled in the selection of institutions and participant (multistage sampling procedure). Data was collected through checklist and interview guide. All collected data were analysed using frequency, percentage and thematics analysis. The findings show that TETFund is the only long-lasting funding organisation that significantly supports building infrastructure, developing people, and funding research in public colleges in Kwara State, regardless of whether they are owned by the national or local government. The governments had virtually hands-off infrastructural and staff development, leaving TETFund to carry out this function and fund research. It was concluded that TETFund was fulfilling its mandate and thus, should be further strengthened.