The SERVICOM Office, Presidency and the Management of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) have jointly reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening service delivery, institutional accountability and customer-focused practices in Nigeria’s tertiary education sector.
The commitment was made today, 23rd June 2026, at a One-Day Retreat for TETFUND SERVICOM Committee Members held in Abuja. The retreat was themed “Fostering a Culture of Service Excellence: Strengthening the Capacity of SERVICOM Committee Members for Effective Service Delivery and Improved Performance.”
Delivering her goodwill message, the Acting National Coordinator and Chief Executive Officer of SERVICOM Office, Mrs. Helen Lawal, commended TETFUND Management and the Parastatal SERVICOM Unit and Committee for convening the retreat. She described it as a timely and strategic intervention for Nigeria’s tertiary education landscape. According to her, the retreat provided a valuable platform for reflection, learning and strategic engagement that would strengthen service delivery and enhance institutional performance.
“Citizens and stakeholders are no longer satisfied with good intentions alone but now expect measurable outcomes, timely responses and consistent adherence to service standards,” the Acting National Coordinator stated. She further stressed that public institutions must continuously reassess systems, processes and structures to remain relevant and meet evolving expectations.
She pointed out that since its establishment, SERVICOM has remained a critical instrument of public service reform, championing service excellence, customer satisfaction, transparency and accountability across MDAs. She added that through Service Charters, monitoring of standards, complaints management and feedback mechanisms, SERVICOM has continued to drive improvements. Mrs. Lawal equally emphasized that effectiveness depended on institutional commitment and the dedication of officers advancing its ideals.
She opined that, as a strategic intervention agency established by the TETFUND Act of 3rd June, 2011, TETFUND occupies a highly visible position in Nigeria’s educational landscape. She, therefore, charged the TETFUND SERVICOM Committee to serve as drivers of service culture, champions of standards, promoters of accountability and ambassadors of the SERVICOM philosophy.
Mrs. Helen also advocated for renewed commitment to excellence at all levels, stronger inter-departmental collaboration, improved communication, effective monitoring and increased stakeholder engagement. She urged the Committee to leverage innovation and technology to improve efficiency, strengthen feedback systems and enhance accessibility. She encouraged participants to examine existing practices, identify challenges and develop practical strategies for improved service outcomes. She expressed delight that TETFUND has continued to invest in capacity-building initiatives, stressing that “institutions do not become excellent by accident but through deliberate effort, continuous learning and collective commitment.”
Earlier in his welcome address, the Executive Secretary of TETFUND, Arc. Sonny S. T. Echono (FNIA) welcomed participants and described the retreat as a reaffirmation of collective commitment to service excellence, institutional strengthening and continuous improvement.
He stated that service lies at the heart of the TETFUND’s mandate – service to beneficiary institutions, to the nation and to future generations. Strengthening delivery, he said, requires ensuring every intervention was timely, transparent, efficient and impactful, with active stakeholder engagement and adherence to accountability.
“Our goal is to ensure that every beneficiary of TETFUND experiences the practical application of SERVICOM principles through efficient service, courtesy, transparency and responsiveness,” the Executive Secretary highlighted. “As custodians of public trust, we must continually strive to exceed expectations and deliver services that inspire confidence and satisfaction.” He further stated.
Arc. Echono emphasized that TETFUND’s operations must align with the SERVICOM Charter maintaining that such alignment was fundamental to excellence in public service delivery. According to him, this required adopting best practices, establishing measurable performance indicators, monitoring progress and continuously seeking improvement. He described the theme as timely and relevant, challenging participants to deepen commitment and equip themselves to drive change within the Fund.
He acknowledged the support of the Ag. National Coordinator of SERVICOM and appreciated resource persons for sharing expertise. He urged participants to contribute actively, share experiences and identify practical solutions, expressing hope they would leave with renewed commitment and actionable strategies.
In her opening remark, the SERVICOM Nodal Officer of the Fund, Dr. Ebere Nwobu, expressed gratitude to the Executive Secretary and Management for approving and supporting the retreat. She commended their commitment to strengthening service delivery and institutional excellence. She appreciated members for attending despite demanding schedules. She further stated that the retreat would provide a valuable opportunity to reflect, reassess and reposition collective efforts toward strengthening service delivery within TETFUND. As SERVICOM Committee members, she said, they carried the critical responsibility of ensuring service standards were defined, implemented, monitored and sustained across all departments.
The retreat concluded with both the SERVICOM Office and the Management of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund expressing confidence that the deliberations and resolutions would strengthen the capacity of the TETFUND SERVICOM Committee and position the Fund for greater impact in advancing Nigeria’s tertiary education sector.
Aderemi Ajibola Adelabu
Public Awareness Manager (PAM)
SERVICOM Presidency
23rd June 2026
