President Tinubu inaugurates N472m TETFund project at ATBU, Bauchi, promises more capital investments in tertiary education 

By Akanji Alowolodu, Bauchi 

President Bola Tinubu on Saturday commissioned a N472m building to accommodate Faculties of Sciences and Management Technology at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, (ATBU), Bauchi. 

The edifice was constructed and equipped by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) under its 2021/2022 merged intervention programmes. 

Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar said that education development is one of cardinal priorities of the Tinubu-led Federal Government. 

He stressed that everything humanly and administratively possible are being done to ensure that all hitches militating against tertiary education in the country are done with in order to ensure a smooth academic session. 

The Minister added that TETFund will continue to intervene in providing infrastructure in all tertiary institutions across the country in order to ensure a conducive environment for learning. 

Tuggar further said that government will continue to invest in training and research to widen the scope of academic performance and enhance learning and teaching. 

The Minister said that, “It is important to also commend and appreciate the President for the commitment he has demonstrated towards the development of education since the commencement of his administration in May 29, 2023.”

He said that, “such as the introduction of the students’ loan initiative to ease access to tertiary education for indigent students, meeting personally with the leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) to discuss the welfare of Nigerian students and recently, approving waiver of the ‘No Work, No Pay’ order on the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), which would pave the way for members of the union to receive part of their withheld salaries.”

According to him,”These are part of conscious efforts being made by this administration to address students’ challenges and create industrial harmony between staff unions and Government.

You would recall that in recognition of the role of TETFund in the development of public tertiary educational institutions in Nigeria, and in a bid to further support and strengthen the intervention activities of the Fund, the President also approved the implementation of the upward review of Education Tax (EDT) to 3 percent with effect from September 2023.”

“This, will in no small measure contribute more to the improved funding of the education sector and development of our public tertiary institutions,” the Minister said. 

Tuggar stressed that, “As we all know, education plays a critical role in the socio-economic development of nations. Therefore, the commissioning of these projects today at the university would in no small measure further enhance teaching and learning and improvement of academic standards.”

He further said that,”I wish to reiterate that education forms an integral part of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration’s Renewed Hope agenda, hence the Federal Government would continue to provide necessary support towards making our educational institutions globally competitive for economic and technological development of the country.”

According to him,”It is on record that over the years, TETFund through the support of the Federal Government 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.”

The Minister added that,”I wish to assure you that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains totally committed towards providing greater support and the enabling environment to enable the Fund improve on its performance.”

He also said that, “I am delighted to note that apart from Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, other public tertiary educational institutions in Bauchi State namely: Federal University of Health Sciences Azare, Bauchi State University Gadau, Federal Polytechnic Bauchi, Abubakar Tatari Ali Polytechnic and College of Education Azare have not been exempted from the intervention efforts of TETFund.”

According to him,”In continuation of the efforts of the Federal Government through the intervention activities of TETFund, I am delighted to note that four projects valued at N472,112,546.83 would be commissioned at the University today.” 

The projects are: Departmental Building (B) 2017/2020 (merged) Annual intervention; Departmental Building (C) Under 2017/2020 (merged) Annual intervention; Classrooms and Laboratories 2017/2020 (merged) Annual intervention; and Academic Building for School of Management Technology 2021/2022 (merged) Annual intervention.

“It is important to note that the Fund has also sponsored 240 (two hundred and forty) lecturers for Ph.D. from this University in both foreign and local totaling N1,799,188,558.57; 13 lecturers for Masters Degrees in both foreign and local institutions totalling N58,580,225; 19 lecturers for benchwork totaling N69,939,060.90;  while  432 staff have been sponsored for Conferences Attendance locally and abroad at a total cost of N286,643,070,” the Minister stressed. 

He added that, “As we dedicate these structures to the Glory of God and humanity, I wish to request that the University take full advantage of these facilities and make good use of them for the educational and vocational development of our students.

“As we gather here today for this auspicious occasion, let me congratulate the Vice Chancellor, Prof Muhammad A. Abdulazeez, the management staff and students of this great university for the developmental strides at the institution,” he added.

The Minister also congratulated and commended the Executive Secretary of TETFund, Arc. Sonny S.T. Echono and his team for their efforts in effectively discharging the mandate of the Fund for the continuous development of public tertiary education in Nigeria.

In his welcome remarks, the Vice Chancellor of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Professor M. A. Abdulazeez  expressed gratitude to the TETFund for the structure which will accommodate the Faculty of Sciences and the Faculty of Management Technology. 

The VC said that, “This indeed, is a momentous occasion in the sense that the Faculty of Science is about moving into some of these facilities. The movement of this Faculty will bring to the number of Faculties that have moved to this campus from Yelwa campus to four; all thanks to the Tertiary Education Fund.”

He stressed that, “The Gubi campus is the main campus of the University. When the central administration of the University moved into the Senate building here in the year 2010, only the faculty of Agriculture was sited here. However, Thirteen years after, the campus now hosts in addition, the Faculty of Technology Education, the Faculty of Management Technology, the Faculty of Science, the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, the College of Medical Sciences, the Post Graduate School, the Directorate of Entrepreneurship and, indeed, the main Library of the University.”

According to him,”We owe all of those achievements almost entirely to the intervention of the Tertiary Education Fund. Your Excellency, we cannot but express our profound gratitude to you for your kind acceptance to be here in person to commission this project for us.” 

He also said that,”Your gesture indicates the versatile character you have which is why we shall continue to hold you in great honour. Your presence here in spite of your tight schedule shows your passion for education and the interest you have in its development, especially in Bauchi State.”

The VC added that,”As an indigene of this state, this gesture will go a long way in encouraging our youths to be knowledgeable and .re-double their efforts in the pursuit of education.

“Your Excellency, the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University is named after an astute politician, a gentleman and a statesman. As a politician yourself, who aspires to leave a name like the late Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, we wish you all the best in your journey which has been fruitful so far,” he added. 

Abdulazeez said that,” As academics, we are confident that you will from this point; take more interest in the progress of the University. We have come a long way in the dispensation of quality knowledge to our youths and moulding their character into responsible Nigerians.” 

According to him,”This one duty spanned over Four decades. We could not have gone this far without support of all our stakeholders. We believe that your new appointment in to the Federal Executive Council will open another door for a better relationship for our University.” 

He then stressed that without the Tetfund intervention over the years, the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University could not have realized its dream of moving to the Gubi campus. 

“As I noted earlier, most of the structures here were provided through Tetfund intervention. We seize this opportunity to extend our profound gratitude to the Federal Government for giving a breath of life to this important institution which, no doubt, the entire public tertiary education sector in the country pleased with,”he emphasized.

 The VC urged the staff that are entrusted with managing the Fund to re-double their efforts in collaborating with the institution to realize world class educational institutions in Nigeria for the benefit of the teaming and growing youths who are hungry for learning.