The Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Sonny Echono, has been honoured as the 2025 Personality of the Year and Tertiary Education Transformation Champion by Aljazirah Nigeria and London.

The award was presented to Echono during a brief ceremony held in his office on Friday in Abuja, in recognition of his reform-driven leadership and commitment to transparency in managing Nigeria’s tertiary education funding agency.

Presenting the award, Chief Executive Officer of Aljazirah Nigeria and London, Etuka Bassey, said the honour followed weeks of nationwide assessment conducted by the organisation’s award committee.

According to Bassey, Echono’s tenure has been defined by “remarkable achievements driven by an ambitious era of reform,” noting that projects under TETFund have been delivered with speed, accountability, and value for money.

“Our independent assessment team visited over 20 federal universities across Nigeria, and the impact goes beyond administrative rhetoric. You have transformed the Fund into a strategic engine of research and intellectual advancement,” he stated.

He highlighted key initiatives of the Fund, including the National Research Fund, expansion of academic research platforms, and the strengthening of the Nigerian Research and Education Network. These efforts, he said, are positioning Nigerian universities competitively within the global knowledge economy.

Bassey further disclosed that the organisation carried out an extensive investigation into Echono’s conduct, both locally and internationally, to verify his integrity.

“We conducted thorough checks across global financial systems in search of illicit assets or offshore accounts. After months of investigation, we found the Executive Secretary to be untainted and free of corruption,” he said.

He added that covert investigations, including interactions with staff and contractors, also revealed no evidence of misconduct.

According to him, the findings have been compiled into a 72-page report, which will be submitted to the President and relevant anti-corruption agencies in August 2026.

Bassey described Echono’s leadership as a model of purposeful governance, adding that both Nigerians and the international community take pride in his achievements.

As part of the recognition, Aljazirah also produced a 3,000-page commemorative publication in his honour, celebrating what it described as a legacy of transformative leadership in Nigeria’s tertiary education sector.

In his response, Echono expressed gratitude for the recognition, describing it as an independent and credible validation of the Fund’s performance.

“I am deeply humbled. This recognition is based on an honest assessment of public service delivery, with no strings attached. It is very encouraging for us,” he said.

He dedicated the award to President Bola Tinubu, commending his administration for its consistent support for TETFund and the education sector.

Echono noted that the highest levels of funding approvals for the agency have been recorded under the current administration, including support for addressing energy challenges in tertiary institutions.

He revealed that the President approved additional funding to complement TETFund’s efforts toward achieving energy self-sufficiency across campuses.

“He gave us the go-ahead and assured us of additional funding support—and he has kept his word,” Echono said.

The TETFund boss also disclosed that early disbursement of the 2026 intervention funds was made possible due to approvals granted in 2025, reflecting improved operational efficiency.

He added that institutions nationwide have already commenced implementation of various projects.

“Our campuses are improving, our lecturers are gaining global recognition, and Nigerian youths are being equipped with relevant skills for the future workforce,” he stated.

Echono reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to accountability and sustained impact.

“We will continue to rededicate ourselves to the service of our country and deliver even more impactful interventions,” he assured.