Onuoha praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for ensuring the availability of funds that enabled the successful completion of the projects. She also addressed the ongoing Tax Reform Bill at the National Assembly, emphasizing that TETFund’s critical role in advancing tertiary education warrants its strengthening rather than dissolution.
“TETFund has become the life wire of tertiary education in Nigeria and therefore deserves to be sustained,” Onuoha stated. “Having toured over 46 universities across the country to oversee these projects, I can confidently say that what TETFund has achieved is marvelous and amazing. It is not right to starve such an impactful agency of the resources it needs to thrive.”
She further highlighted the need to address concerns such as substandard projects, delays, and project abandonment, which she noted are being tackled through legislative oversight and reforms under the leadership of TETFund’s Executive Secretary, Arc Sonny Echono.
Governor Nwifuru Commends TETFund’s Impact
Ebonyi State Governor Francis Nwifuru, represented by his Deputy, Princess Patricia Obila, lauded TETFund for its interventions in tertiary institutions, describing them as instrumental to the infrastructural and educational advancement of EBSU. He also commended President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope initiative, which has facilitated transformative projects in the state’s education sector and beyond.
TETFund’s Achievements and Reforms
Arc Sonny Echono, TETFund’s Executive Secretary, represented by Babatunde Olajide, disclosed that the three projects commissioned at EBSU were part of the agency’s annual interventions for 2016-2019, 2020, and 2021-2022, totaling N1,339,791,726.06. He noted that the projects were delivered in line with TETFund’s guidelines and have significantly addressed infrastructural deficiencies at the university.
Since TETFund’s interventions began at EBSU in 1999, the institution has received allocations totaling N12,313,420,341.34 for infrastructure-related projects. Echono revealed that 85.1% of these funds have been accessed and utilized effectively, resulting in remarkable strides in teaching, learning, and research.
He commended the university’s management, Governor Nwifuru, and the project teams for their dedication to ensuring the successful delivery of the projects. Echono expressed optimism that the completed projects would enhance EBSU’s global competitiveness and contribute significantly to research and development.
EBSU Vice Chancellor Highlights TETFund’s Role
Prof. Chigozie Ogbu, Vice Chancellor of Ebonyi State University, echoed Onuoha’s sentiments, describing TETFund as the lifeblood of tertiary education in Nigeria. He praised the agency for creating a conducive environment for teaching and learning, while also acknowledging Governor Nwifuru’s commitment to educational transformation in the state.
Ogbu, however, appealed to TETFund for a special allocation to complete the Advanced Reference Research Laboratory and a zonal allocation for the landscaping of the Faculty of Management block at the university.
Conclusion
The commissioning of the N1.3 billion projects at EBSU underscores TETFund’s pivotal role in Nigeria’s tertiary education sector. With calls for its sustenance and further strengthening, stakeholders remain optimistic that the agency will continue to drive infrastructural development, research, and academic excellence across the country.