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Federal varsity, Ebonyi gets N4b worth of TETFund projects

By Kanayo Umeh, Abuja
23 September 2015   |   11:52 pm
The Federal University Ndufu-Alike Ikwo, Ebonyi State, one of the 12 new universities established by the President Goodluck Jonathan administration has benefited from projects worth over N4b from Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund. Bursar of the university, Mr. Aliyu Kolawole, disclosed this at the while addressing journalist on a tour of TETFund’s projects at the…
EBONYI STATE.PHOTO : www.southeastnigeria.com

EBONYI STATE.PHOTO : www.southeastnigeria.com

The Federal University Ndufu-Alike Ikwo, Ebonyi State, one of the 12 new universities established by the President Goodluck Jonathan administration has benefited from projects worth over N4b from Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund.

Bursar of the university, Mr. Aliyu Kolawole, disclosed this at the while addressing journalist on a tour of TETFund’s projects at the main campus of the institution.

He explained that the release of intervention funds for the building of classrooms, laboratories, and well-stocked and equipped libraries have, no doubt, made learning more meaningful and conducive for students in tertiary institutions across the country.

Aliyu, who gave a breakdown of the year-by-year funding of projects said the funds include a N1.5b take-off grant allocated to the school in 2011, as well as the presidential high-impact intervention in 2013 to the tune of N1.15 billion, among others.

According to him, the massive support from TETFund was used to fund the vast infrastructure that adorn the school’s landscape.

Registrar of the university, Mr. Gabriel Chukwu, while receiving the team on behalf of the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Ebidapo Obe, said TETFund has come a long way in aid of higher institutions.

Chukwu noted that most of the infrastructure in the university were entirely funded by TETFund, stressing that the university could not have done much without the massive support from the agency.

Also speaking, the school’s acting Director of Academic Planning, Dr, Afam Icha-Ituma, noted that research grant provided by TETFund has enabled a number of staff engage in high quality research work.

Icha-Ituma said up to 15 members of staff of the institution benefited from different research endeavours, which have been funded by TETFund.

“Indeed TETFund has been our primary source of support in terms of developing academic capacity. We believe in research-led teaching and it enhances student learning experience,” he said.

He, however, noted that it was too early to assess the impact of Academic staff development programme in the university because most of the beneficiaries were still studying for their postgraduate programmes in the Diaspora.

Meanwhile, Rector, Federal Polytechnic, Oko, Prof. Godwin Onuh, has described TETFund as the one of the most important thing has happened to the country’s education sector.

Onu said without interventions from TETFund, most public tertiary institutions in the country would have been in a state of stagnation.

The rector who disclosed this in an interview with journalists who were on tour of TETFund’s intervention projects in the institution, explained that the prompt release of intervention funds for the building of well-stocked libraries, classrooms and well equipped libraries have no doubt made learning more meaningful and conducive for students in the ivory tower across the country.

His words: “TETFund is one the most important things that has happened in this country, especially in the education sector. I want to say that without TETFund intervention, most higher institutions would have been in doldrums. The establishment of TETFund is a well-thought out initiative that has impacted tremendously on the education sector, both in quantity and quality.

Onu stated that most infrastructures in the school were courtesy of various TETFunds’ interventions.

“For the Federal Polytechnic Oko, a lot achievements are attributable to the funding that has come from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund). We are really pleased and happy with the disposition of the executive secretaries that have been there, and the one that is still there, and also the friendly disposition of staff of TETFund, which has impacted on instant and quick releases of funds for payment of these projects. When you go round, you will see a lot that is going on here, and I am sure that it is not only in this institution, but also some other tertiary institutions.”

The rector noted that many lecturers in the polytechnic have benefited from the agency’s capacity building initiative.

“Many of my staff are enjoying various scholarships schemes, some are in India; at least I count seven of them in various Indian universities courtesy of TETFund. One of them has obtained his Ph.D from the University of Kwazulu-Natal in South Africa and he come back. Others are still undergoing various Ph.D programmes, while some are masters’ degree programmes. Some are in the United Kingdom, others in the United States and other parts of the world as well as across Nigeria.

“Many of my staff have equally benefited from TETFund’s book development project, and the same thing with research funds. Recently, I approved payments for some of them that got their research proposals approved by TETFund.

Onu added, “Among all the sources of interventions, TETFund has been very tremendous, other ones are just a drop in the ocean, but TETFUND has impacted heavily and fundamentally in the education development of this institution and I am sure it is the same thing in other institutions in the country.

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