Maduako Igbokwe I Friday, Dec. 08, 2023
AWKA, Nigeria – The Federal Government on today commissioned six projects valued at N 2,775,227,111.78 at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University University, Awka Anambra State.
The projects were executed through the intervention of Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) allocated between 2016 and 2020.
The projects are, Construction of Lecture Halls Complex Year 2014-2016 (Merged) Annual Intervention ; and Construction and Furnishing of Faculty Building for Social Sciences Year 2019 Special High Impact Intervention; and Construction and Furnishing of Department of Psychology Building for Social Sciences Year 2019 Special High Impact Intervention; and Construction and Furnishing of Departmental Office Block for Faculty of Education (Vocational Studies) Year 2019 Special High Impact Intervention.
Others are Construction and Furnishing of Classrooms and Block of Offices for Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences Year 2019 Special High Impact Intervention; and Construction of Laboratory and Offices for Faculty of Pharmacy Year 2019 Special High Impact intervention.
Commissioning the projects ,the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu said that the Federal Government was committed to the growth of tertiary education in Nigeria.
The Deputy Speaker represented by House Member representing Orumba North/ South Federal Constituency of Anambra State,Princess Chinwe Nnabuife described the National Assembly as a key stakeholder of the Fund.
“I am excited to note that since the enactment of the TETFund Act in 2011, the Fund has performed exceptionally in the provision of physical infrastructure, support for academic staff training and development, book publication, ICT, Research and Development amongst others in public tertiary educational institutions across the country.
“I, therefore, wish to use this opportunity to assure you that the 10th House of Representatives under the leadership of the Speaker, House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas and indeed, the entire National Assembly will continue to provide necessary support to the Fund through the enactment of legislations that would further advance tertiary education in Nigeria” he said .
Earlier , the Executive Secretary of TETfund Arc. Sonny Echono said that TETfund was happy to be associated with developmental efforts that promote the growth of the university in the country.
The Executive secretary of TETfund was represented by Director Corporate Communication of Fund ,Arc Inene Eriyo at the event .
“This is particularly gratifying with the increase in the development of requisite infrastructure that aid learning, teaching, and research. It is remarkable to note that TETFund’s interventions to the university commenced in 2009 and this privilege has been enjoyed till date” he said .
According to him,from commencement, a total sum of N10,567,075,176.00 has been allocated for infrastructure-related interventions, cutting across the Annual, Special and Zonal interventions, amongst others for the institution. So far, about 87.33% of these funds have already been accessed for the provision of requisite facilities in the university.
“We believe the projects undertaken with these funds have remarkably impacted on the mandate of the university in facilitating teaching, learning, and research.
“I therefore wish to commend the Management of the University for ensuring the successful delivery of the various intervention projects executed from inception, some of which we are assembled here to commission today” he stated .
He stated that the projects commissioned today in the Awka campus were four in number and are those of the Annual and Special High Impact interventions. He said ,funds were allocated to the projects between 2016 and 2020, and completions successfully achieved between 2022 and 2023.
He said that in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration, the Fund has resolved to ensure that all interventions are sustained and improved as much as possible to enable institutions undertake more laudable and impactful projects that would make them become globally competitive.
According it is the pleasure of the fund this institution is situate in enviable positions among their peers both nationally and globally. He stated that despite the challenges, the projects were delivered, notwithstanding the debilitating extenuating circumstances.
“We therefore urge the university to please ensure that these facilities are well maintained to avoid early dilapidation” he said .
He assured that the Fund will always support the university’s drive for creativity through meaningful research endeavours while we continually provide necessary support for infrastructural facilities.
Speaking the Vice Chancellor, Prof Charles Okechukwu Esimone commended the fund for the intervention.
“I want to specially thank TETfund for the wonderful support it has been giving to the university . For the first time in the university that we have a project that comes with lift and we designed that for a purpose .
“We thank the Fund because at a certain time it appeared that things were not going to work but it actually worked. The entire members of the university are happy we will send our appreciation letter” he said
