Tertiary Education Trust Fund- Tetfund has inaugurated projects worth over two billion naira across four learning institutions in Kaduna State.
Executive Secretary of Tetfund Mr Sony Echono disclosed this during official commissioning of the projects in Kaduna.
Mr. Sony Echono who was represented by the Director Monitoring and Evaluation, Architect Babatunde Olajide said that an estimated one hundred and sixty two of such projects in fifty four beneficiary institutions across twenty eight states of the federation are expected to be commissioned .
“let me remark that the projects to be commissioned in the various Institutions have painstakingly been screened through an assessment criteria and are suitable for commissioning “,he said.
The Executive Secretary said the financing of the projects by the Federal Government was an indication of its commitment to the provision of infrastructure in the nation’s public tertiary institutions.
He stressed that Tetfund mandate insist that value was obtained for funds allocated to the benefiting Institutions to aid teaching, learning and research for global competitiveness.
Mr Sony Echono commended managements of the four institutions for completing the projects within reasonable time frame and in the best standard
“The projects commissioned at the Nigeria Defence Academy for instance, come under the Annual and Zonal Intervention which commenced between 2019 and 2021 and completed fully in 2022”
“as a Fund ,we enjoin you to maintain proper maintenance of the structures to avoid early dilapidation in view of limited resources to construct new ones “,he concluded.
Earlier in his speech, the Commandant Nigeria Defence Academy Major General Ibrahim Manu Yusuf said Tetfund had spent over eight billion naira on the institution from 2016 till date.
“since the beginning of the present government, the Academy has enjoyed the full support of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund to the tune of over Eight point two billion from 2016 till date,where about six billion is for Infrastructural Development; and two point two billion went to human capital ,research, publication, library and ICT development among others “,he explained
He acknowledged the contribution of the Federal Government in the man power development of the Academy and the Armed forces in general.
Major General Ibrahim Manu Yusuf appreciated President Muhammadu Buhari and the Tetfund for their immense support over the years .
In a message at the event, the Commandant Airforce Institute of Technology Kaduna Air Vice Marshall Peter Jemitola appealed for more funding to improve facilities.
In their separate remarks, Rector Kaduna Polytechnic Dr.Suleman Umar and Vice Chancellor Kaduna State University Professor Abdullahi Musa assured Tetfund of effective utilization of funds and continuous synergy for the betterment of education in the country.
Commissioning the projects In the four Institutions on behalf of President Muhammadu Buhari, the chairman Senate committee on Defense Senator Aliyu Wammako charged the benefiting institutions to start focusing more on research and assured of government support for the development of the nation.
Cover/Teddy Daniel