Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2021 / ib / Paper 4 / 2F / b

If $f:\tilde{X}\to Y$ is continuous, then $f\circ \pi$ is continuous because the quotient map $\pi$ is continuous by definition.

Conversely, suppose $f\circ \pi$ is continuous. For every open set $V\subseteq Y$,is open in $X$. The definition of the quotient topology then says that $f^{-1}(V)$ is open in $\tilde{X}$. HenceThis is the universal property of the quotient topology.