Natsa Foni Foundation

Closing the Student Housing Gap for Students in Tertiary Institutions Each year, a significant number of students transition into higher education in Nigeria, reflecting a strong pursuit of tertiary knowledge among the nation's youth. Despite this enthusiasm, there's a notable deficit in essential amenities and infrastructure to accommodate these students adequately. In response, the Federal Government, Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) in partnership with Africa Plus Partners, has embarked on a mission to provide hostel accommodations for 38,400 students across 24 tertiary institutions in the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria. Current Accommodation Challenges Data indicates that the accommodation gap in tertiary institutions exceeds 80%. Reflecting on my undergraduate experience sometime in 2004, and observing the trends up to 2024, it is clear that the demand for tertiary education has significantly increased, exacerbating the accommodation deficit. This gap is particul...

Transparency and accountability in public infrastructure projects are crucial for fostering trust and ensuring the efficient use of public funds. To address these concerns, some nationals and sub-nationals have joined initiatives like the COST programme. COST aims to enhance transparency, promote accountability, and foster collaboration between government and the citizens they serve. But what happens after an entity joins the COST initiative, what should we expect?  THERE’S A NEED TO DEFINE CLEAR OBJECTIVES OR SHARE THE ALREADY DEVELOPED ONES WITH CITIZENS.   Before joining or at least once a member of COST, it's essential to define clear objectives. What specific outcomes do they hope to achieve through this initiative? Whether it's reducing corruption in infrastructure projects, improving project delivery timelines, or enhancing the quality of public assets, having defined goals is crucial for the success of this journey. ENHANCE DATA COLLECTION AND REPORTING One of the core...