Our Support For Public Institutions Sure – TETFund

• Unveils N866.7m projects in COE, Akamkpa

BY UBON EKANEM, CALABAR – The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has pledged to maintain reasonable financial support for Nigerian public institutions to enhance their global academic standing and ensure graduates are competitive in alignment with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope” Agenda.

Accordingly, the Fund says the equitable distribution of funds among beneficiaries as per relevant laws governing its operations will remain the driving principle in the mandate execution going forward.

TETFund’s Executive Secretary, Architect Sonny Echono made the pledge while commissioning projects worth over N866.7 million Naira at the College of Education, Akamkpa in Cross River State, saying no efforts would be spared in ensuring that institutions across the country enjoy improved facilities for the educational advancement of their students.

The projects commissioned are the College of Education building for N345.7 million Naira; the Department of Culture and Creative Arts building at N236.07 million Naira and the Department of Human Kinetics and Physical Education building at N284.9 million Naira.

Arc Echono said the commissioning is a testament to satisfactory performance by the management of the institution in utilizing funds allocated for the provision of of requisite infrastructure needed for the enhancement of teaching and learning.

Identifying the rising cost of building materials as the major challenge facing the Fund in the prompt and timely delivery of its mandate, Arc Echono said no efforts would be spared in ensuring that institutions across the country enjoy improved facilities for the educational advancement of their students.

He explained that before projects are approved for intervention, such projects must be properly scrutinized to ensure they satisfy the laid down requirements of the Fund

Furthermore, the Executive Secretary disclosed that besides infrastructure intervention, TETFund also supports content-based development initiatives in the areas of training and skills acquisition, adding that the focused intervention aims at enabling both lecturers and non-teaching staff to attend greater heights in educational advancement as well as positioning public higher institutions to achieve global rankings.

“We have recently experienced significant market volatility that has affected all sectors of the economy, including construction. Therefore, it brings us joy to witness the completion of projects despite these challenges and to officially inaugurate them. We commend the College Management for this accomplishment”, he said.

In his remarks, Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River State commended TETFund for its investments in the college, noting that the socio-economic landscape of the region will certainly improve due to continuous investment in developing facilities within the college.

Governor Otu, represented by the State Commissioner for Education, Senator Stephen Odey, highlighted the importance of projects and their significant benefits, even as he challenged the College’s Management on proper maintenance to encourage further support from the Fund.

On his part, the College’s Provost, Professor Patrick Asuquo, acknowledged TETFund’s contributions toward improved facilities in the institution and requested additional assistance in the areas of alternative power sources, a perimeter fence, and the establishment of an Entrepreneurial Development Centre (EDC).

Others include improved internet access and upgraded facilities in the medical centre, adding that these would better support students’ academic and personal development.