By joshua TETFund Boss Echono, Ex-Education Minister Adamu Adamu, Bag Idoma Hall of Fame Awards
Abuja | October 2026
The Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Arc. Sonny Echono, PhD, and the former Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, CON, were among eminent Nigerians honoured at the prestigious Idoma Hall of Fame Awards held in Abuja at the weekend.
The event, which celebrated distinguished sons and daughters of Idoma land and friends of the Idoma nation who have made outstanding contributions to national development, education and public service, drew a large gathering of political leaders, traditional rulers, captains of industry, academics and members of the Idoma community from across the country and the diaspora.
Arc. Echono, who has redefined intervention in tertiary education through far-reaching reforms, improved accountability and massive infrastructural renewal under TETFund, was honoured for his exceptional leadership, commitment to educational advancement and for making the Idoma nation proud through exemplary public service.
Similarly, Mallam Adamu Adamu, who served as Minister of Education for eight years and remains one of the longest-serving education ministers in Nigeria’s history, was recognized for his profound impact on the nation’s education sector, his policy depth and his enduring support for inclusive education and human capital development.
In a symbolic moment that underscored continuity and progress in Nigeria’s education sector, both leaders — the former minister who superintended over education policy and the current TETFund boss who is implementing one of its most critical intervention vehicles — were celebrated side by side to a standing ovation.
Speaking on the sidelines of the award ceremony, organizers said the Idoma Hall of Fame Awards was instituted to document and celebrate excellence, preserve Idoma heritage and project role models who inspire the younger generation to aspire to greatness while remaining rooted in cultural values.
They described Arc. Echono and Mallam Adamu Adamu as two towering figures whose partnership while in office helped to stabilize and reposition the education sector, noting that their recognition was well-deserved and long overdue.
The ceremony, which featured cultural displays, citations and goodwill messages, ended with a renewed call for Idoma sons and daughters in positions of authority to continue to uphold integrity, service and community development as exemplified by the awardees.