Tinubu Inaugurates N472m TETFund Project in ATBU Bauchi

*Promises more capital investment in tertiary institutions

Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has inaugurated a N472 million building to accommodate the Faculty of Sciences and Faculty of 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.
The projects includes 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.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony at the weekend, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, said education development was one of cardinal priorities of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led federal government.
He stressed that everything humanly and administratively possible were being done to ensure that all hitches militating against tertiary education in the country were done with in order to ensure a smooth academic session.

The Minister added that TETFund would 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 government would continue to invest in training and research to widen the scope of academic performance and enhance learning and teaching.

According to the Minister, “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 added 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: “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: “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 added: “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.”

Earlier in his welcome remarks, the Vice Chancellor of ATBU, Prof. M. A. Abdulazeez, expressed gratitude to the TETFund for the structure which would accommodate the Faculty of Sciences and the Faculty of Management Technology.