From Paul Orude, Bauchi
President Bola Tinubu on Friday inaugurated the Tertiary Education Tax Funds (TETFUND) N1 billion 2,000 sitting capacity Central Library Complex in the Bauchi state University, Gadau.
Represented by the member House Committee on TETFUND Honourable Bappa Misau, member representing Misau
He noted that apart from the Bauchi State University, Gadau, other public tertiary educational institutions in Bauchi State such as Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU) and Abubakar Tatari Ali Polytechnic, Federal Polytechnic Bauchi, College of Education Azare, College of Education kangere have not been exempted from the giant strides recorded in the Nigerian tertiary educational space as a result of the intervention efforts of TETFund.
Arc. Sonny Echono, the Executive Secretary of the fund, said that the project was approved under the Years 2017-2019 merged annual intervention.
Represented by the Director, Monitoring and Evaluation, TETFUND, Mr Olajide Babatunde, the Executive Secretary, said that the university had been a beneficiary of the Fund’s interventions from year 2012 when it became enlisted as a beneficiary of the Fund’s interventions.
“From year 2012 to date, TETFUND has allocated the sum of N17.3 billion for infrastructure-related interventions only, cutting across the Annual, Special High Impact and Zonal interventions, amongst others,” Echono disclosed.
“With about 97% funds already accessed, we note with delight that these funds are being deployed judiciously in the provision of requisite facilities, which are obviously seen in various locations on the campus here,” he said.
He assured that the Fund would continue to ensure that its interventions were sustained and improved upon to enable government-owned tertiary institutions undertake impactful projects that would make them become globally competitive.
In his address, Hon. Aliyu Misau, Member, House Committee on TETFUND, said that the Fund had also sponsored 100 lecturers for Ph.D. in both foreign and local institutions totaling N955 million.
He added that 143 lecturers was also sponsored for Masters Degrees in both foreign and local institutions totaling N359 million, among others.
Also speaking, the Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Fatima Tahir, lauded TETFUND for the ‘milestone’ intervention, adding that the project would help in shaping the future of the institution.
“We must acknowledge the vital role played by TETFUND imaking this dream a tangible reality.
“Their unwavering support both financial and logistically has ensured that we have the resources necessary to provide exceptional learning experience for our students.
“On behalf of our university, I extend our deepest gratitude to the federal government of Nigeria and to TETFUND for their commitment to education and for believing in the transformative power of knowledge,” she said.