The Federal Government has discontinued its overseas training programme after 80 per cent of sponsored Nigerians failed to return to the country, following an expenditure of N220 billion over 10 years.
The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, disclosed this at the inauguration of the RHV–ROBOMED Robotic Academy in Ogun State, saying the government had stopped the programme over concerns about the outcome of its investment.
“Over 10 years, TETFund invested N220bn in sending people abroad to go and train. And guess what? 80 percent of those people did not come back to Nigeria,” Alausa said.
He said the government decided to discontinue the programme and reconsider its approach to funding overseas training.
“We said, no, we cannot continue to work on that money. But immediately, I said this foreign programme, foreign training, it was stopped. And we stopped it immediately,” he said.
The minister’s disclosure highlights concerns over Nigeria’s ability to retain professionals trained with public funds, as the country continues to grapple with the migration of skilled workers abroad.
TETFund supports the development of tertiary education institutions in Nigeria through funding for infrastructure, research and academic development.
