Dr Hassan Abdulrahman Ocholi has expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for appointing him as a member of the Board of Trustees of Tertiary Education Trust Fund, representing the North Central geopolitical zone.
Ocholi also thanked Ahmed Usman Ododo for his support and encouragement, describing the appointment as a call to greater national service and a responsibility to advance tertiary education in the North Central and across Nigeria.
The appreciation was contained in a statement issued by Ocholi on Tuesday following the Presidency’s announcement of his appointment.
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He described the appointment as both a privilege and a solemn responsibility, pledging to work with other members of the Board to strengthen TETFund’s interventions in public tertiary institutions while ensuring effective representation for the North Central zone.
“I am deeply grateful to His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for finding me worthy of this important national assignment. I consider this appointment not merely as a personal recognition but as a call to serve Nigeria with integrity, diligence and patriotism in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda.
“I also sincerely appreciate His Excellency, Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo, whose unwavering support, encouragement and commitment to the development of Kogi State and its people continue to inspire many of us in public service. I remain indebted to him for his confidence and fatherly guidance,” he said.
Ocholi assured residents of the North Central geopolitical zone that he would promote equitable educational development, improved access to intervention funds, enhanced research support, academic staff capacity building and quality infrastructure in public tertiary institutions across the region.
“I assure the good people of the North Central that I will discharge this responsibility with transparency, accountability and fairness. I will work with fellow Board members and the management of TETFund to ensure that our universities, polytechnics and colleges of education continue to receive the support required to produce globally competitive graduates and research that will drive national development,” he added.
He also appreciated the people of Oganenigwu Ward in Dekina Local Government Area, Kogi State, for their prayers, goodwill and continued support throughout his career.
Dr. Ocholi is a scientist, administrator and policy expert with a PhD in Biological Sciences. He also holds postgraduate qualifications, including a Master of Business Administration (MBA), a Master of Science in Public Health and a degree in Peace and Conflict Resolution.
According to the statement, he has built a career spanning public service, scientific research, administration, policy development and community engagement, with contributions in research, public health advocacy, grassroots mobilisation and evidence-based policymaking.
President Tinubu, in announcing the appointment, urged the new Board member to contribute to the implementation of the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda through effective oversight and strategic policy direction for tertiary education.
Established under the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (Establishment, Etc.) Act, 2011, TETFund administers education tax collected from registered companies and channels the resources to public universities, polytechnics and colleges of education. Its interventions include infrastructure development, academic staff training, research grants, library development, instructional materials and entrepreneurship programmes aimed at improving the quality of tertiary education in Nigeria.
As a member of the Board of Trustees, Ocholi will join other board members in providing policy direction, promoting transparency in the management of the Fund and overseeing the effective utilisation of education tax resources to strengthen Nigeria’s public tertiary education system.