By Dave Uka
President Bola Tinubu has reiterated the resolve of his administration to improve the educational sector.
Tinubu who stated this in Abakaliki while inaugurating three newly constructed Tertiary Education Trust Fund projects in Ebonyi State University said education plays a critical role in the socio-economic development of nations.
The inaugurated projects are; ICT complex(2012-2015) merged annual intervention, Faculty of Education building (2016-2019) merged annual intervention and Library Complex(2012-2015) merged annual intervention.
The President who was represented by Minister of Works, Sen. David Umahi said the project would in no small measure enhance learning, teaching and the improvement of academic standards.
He commended TETFund for the roles it has been playing in advancing educational development in Nigeria noting that education has a pride of place in the 2024 proposed project which is now before the National Assembly for consideration
“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 per cent 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.
“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”, he stated.
In his address, the Governor of Ebonyi State, Francis Nwifuru who lauded the TETFund sponsored projects in the University commended the Federal Government for finding the State worthy of benefiting from such funding from TETFund.
He noted that he has critically analyzed the three TETfunds projects and discovered that the reasons for constructing them were enormous.
"I have analyzed the project of TETFund, I have looked at it and found out that the value of and the reason for the project is very enormous. This is the Agency of government that is not given to any story. If you are a contractor to TETFund, you must know they don't take story. There is no provision for revaluation of job, no variation"
In their earlier remarks, the Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Chigozie N Ogbu and the Executive Secretary of TETFund, Arc. Sonny S T Echono, commended the President for his manifest commitment in raising the bar in educational development in Nigeria, particularly his interest in the development of tertiary education.
The Vice Chancellor noted that it was the first time in the history of the University that TETFund sponsored projects were being commissioned at the University and they are grateful to the President. "I am very happy to report that all our infrastructural and supply projects from TETFund are completed except for one pending installation of the solar panels for the lecture podia already supplied. "We are grateful to TETFund for these impactful input into the development of Ebonyi State University"
The Executive Secretary of TETFund on his own part said he was optimistic that the TETFund sponsored projects in the University would strengthen the University's efforts in becoming a global player in the tertiary education sub- sector and significantly contribute to educational research and development.
"Our resolve as a Fund is to ensure that our interventions are sustained and improved upon as much as possible to enable our institutions undertake bigger and more laudable and impactful projects that will make them become globally competitive and situate them in enviable positions among their peers both nationally and globally".
"We shall continually engage with our beneficiary institutions towards ensuring the delivery of iconic and impactful intervention projects in subsequent intervention years"
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