Sonny Echono

Sunday Sylva Togo Echono OON (born 16 December 1962) is a Nigerian diplomat, and architect who serves as the 9th Executive Secretary of Tertiary Education Trust Fund from 2022 till-date. Previously, Echono served as the Secretary of the Admissions Committee of the Nigerian Institute of Architects and the 28th President of the Nigerian Institute of Architects from 2019 to 2021.[1]

Arc.
Sonny Echono
OON
9th Executive Secretary of TETFund
Assumed office
18 March 2022
Nominated byBoard of TETFund
Appointed byMuhammad Buhari
Preceded bySuleiman Elias Bogoro
28th President of the Nigerian Institute of Architects
In office
2019–2021
Preceded byAmina Mohammed
Succeeded byEnyi Ben-Eboh
Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Education
In office
2017–2022
Preceded byMacJohn Nwaobiala
Succeeded byAndrew David Adejoh
Personal details
Born
Sunday Sylva Togo Echono

(1962-12-16) 16 December 1962
NationalityNigerian
EducationSt. Mary’s Primary School
St. Theresa’s and St. Murumba’s College,
Alma materUniversity of Calabar
University of Turin
Ahmadu Bello University
Benue State Polytechnic
OccupationArchitect

Early life

Sunday Sylva Togo Echono was born on 16 December 1962 in Otukpo, Benue State. He attended St. Mary’s Primary School in Otukpo for his primary education and St. Theresa’s and St. Murumba’s College in Jos for his secondary education. He joined Murtala College of Arts, Science, and Technology (now. Benue State Polytechnic) in Makurdi for his ‘A’ Levels (JAMB / WAEC), and later pursued a degree in Architecture at Ahmadu Bello University, where he graduated with a BSc. in Architecture in 1983 and an MSc. in 1985.[2]

Career

Ochono began his career as an Architect with the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing in 1987,[3] and was elevated in 2005 as the Deputy Director of the ministry.[3] As a civil servant, he served in different ministries including the National Housing Policy as secretary of the Implementation Committee from 1991 to 1994,[3] Member and Secretary of the Special Project Task Force from 1992 to 1993. In 1993, he became acting Chief Executive Architect and joined the Secretary Committee on Lands and Housing, and Assistant to Permanent Secretary from 1994 to 1995. He became Secretary of the Ministerial Tenders Board from 2004 to 2005.[3]

From 2007 to 2008, he serves as the Deputy Director of the Budget Monitoring and Price Intelligence Unit. Echono became Director of Procurement of the Federal Ministry of Defence from 2008 to 2010. In 2010, he served as Director of Procurement of the Federal Ministry of Water Resources till 2011 and served as Director of Procurement of the Federal Ministry of Environment till 2014. In 2014, he served as Director of Procurement of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and was elevated to the Director of Procurement of the Federal Ministry of Power in the same year.[3] He became the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture from 2014 to 2016.[3]

Echono served as the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Communications from 2015 to 2017.[4] In 2017, He was appointed Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Education, where he served until his retirement in 2022.

TETFund appiontment

On 2 March 2022, he was appointed Executive Secretary of Tertiary Education Trust Fund by the 15th President of Nigeria, Muhammad Buhari.[5] On 4 March 2022, Echono received approval from Tertiary Education Trust Fund as the new executive secretary.[6] on 18 March 2022, he resumed office following the end of Suleiman Elias Bogoro administration.[5] Under his administration, TETFund entered strategic partnerships with notable institutions, including the University of Brazil, for the training of more Nigerian professionals in agriculture, secured transnational cooperation with the government of Britain, Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa, Nigerian Economic Summit Group, African Union in areas of research and collaboration that would aid the growth and development of tertiary education in Nigeria.[7] On 18 July 2023, he appeared before the house of representatives ad hoc committee investigating the alleged abuse of N2.3 trillion tertiary education tax by TETFund. He tells the committee “over 137 scholars sponsored abroad by the fund have absconded”.[8]

Other activities

Other activities include:[1]

Honours

National honours

References
  1. "Arc. Sonny Echono: A journey of excellence". P.M. News. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
  2. John, Samuel (11 November 2021). "ARC. Sonny Echono: A journey of excellence of a visionary". The Sun Nigeria. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  3. Online, Tribune (6 February 2022). "THINGS YOU DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT ARC. SONNY ECHONO". Tribune Online. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  4. Ezeh, Fred (29 January 2022). "Why I rejected elongation of my tenure –Sonny Echono, ex-Perm Sec,". The Sun Nigeria. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  5. Erunke, Joseph. "Breaking: Buhari appoints Echono new Executive Secretary of TETFund". Vanguard Nigeria. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  6. Tyohemba, Henry (28 July 2022). "As Echono Clocks 100 Days In Office". Leadership Newspaper. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  7. Nigeria, Guardian (28 November 2022). "Echono and his transformation role in TETFund". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  8. Akpan, Samuel (18 July 2023). "Over 137 scholars sponsored abroad absconded, says TETFund executive secretary". TheCable. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  9. Erunke, Joseph. "After receiving OON, TETFund's Echono bags another award". Vanguard Nigeria. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
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