Officials of the SERVICOM Office, Presidency and the management of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund on June 23, 2026 gathered in Abuja for a one day retreat aimed at reinforcing service delivery standards and institutional accountability across Nigeria's tertiary education sector.

The retreat, themed "Fostering a Culture of Service Excellence: Strengthening the Capacity of SERVICOM Committee Members for Effective Service Delivery and Improved Performance," brought together TETFUND SERVICOM Committee members for reflection, capacity building and strategic engagement.

In his welcome address, the Executive Secretary of TETFUND, Arc. Sonny S. T. Echono, described the event as a reaffirmation of collective commitment to service excellence and continuous improvement. He maintained that strengthening delivery required ensuring every intervention was timely, transparent, efficient and impactful. "Our goal is to ensure that every beneficiary of TETFUND experiences the practical application of SERVICOM principles through efficient service, courtesy, transparency and responsiveness," he stated. "As custodians of public trust, we must continually strive to exceed expectations and deliver services that inspire confidence and satisfaction," he added.

Arc. Echono stressed that TETFUND's operations must align with the SERVICOM Charter, describing such alignment as fundamental to excellence in public service. He called on participants to adopt best practices, establish measurable performance indicators and commit to continuous improvement.

Delivering her goodwill message, the Acting National Coordinator and Chief Executive Officer of the SERVICOM Office, Mrs. Helen Lawal, commended TETFUND management for organising the retreat and described it as a timely intervention for Nigeria's tertiary education landscape. She charged the TETFUND SERVICOM Committee to function as drivers of service culture and ambassadors of the SERVICOM philosophy. "Citizens and stakeholders are no longer satisfied with good intentions alone but now expect measurable outcomes, timely responses and consistent adherence to service standards," she noted.

Mrs. Lawal urged the Committee to leverage innovation and technology to improve efficiency and strengthen feedback systems. She stressed that public institutions must continuously reassess their systems and processes to meet evolving expectations, adding that "institutions do not become excellent by accident but through deliberate effort, continuous learning and collective commitment."

In her opening remarks, the SERVICOM Nodal Officer of the Fund, Dr. Ebere Nwobu, expressed appreciation to TETFUND management for supporting the retreat and acknowledged members for attending despite demanding schedules. She noted that the Committee bore responsibility for ensuring service standards were defined, implemented, monitored and sustained across all departments.

Both organisations expressed confidence that resolutions from the retreat would strengthen the TETFUND SERVICOM Committee's capacity and advance the Fund's impact in Nigeria's tertiary education sector.