President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday, commissioned about six projects executed by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, TETFUND at the campuses of Benue State University, Makurdi, in North Central Nigeria.
President Buhari recalled that the support of his administration towards activities of TETFund, including the recent upward review of Education Tax from 2 percent to 2.5 percent has in no small measure contributed to the successes of the establishment.
President Buhari noted that through the support of the Federal Government, TETFUND has performed greatly in the provision of physical infrastructure, support for academic staff training and development, book publication, ICT, as well as Research and Development in public tertiary educational institutions across the country.
He expressed the hope that with the commissioning of the infrastructures, the University projects would in no small measure further enhance teaching and learning and also improve academic standards of the institution.
He pointed out that apart from Benue State University, Makurdi about 8 other public tertiary educational institutions in the State including Joseph Sarwuan Tarka university, Makurdi, have not been exempted from TETFUND intervention.
President Buhari urged beneficiaries of the projects valued at over N2.6 billion Naira to protect them from damage.
The Nigerian leader was represented by the Mibister of Special Duties and Inter-governmental Affairs, Senator George Akume.
Huge Investments
In his remarks, the Executive Secretary of TETFund, Sunny Echono, said the Nigerian Government had made huge investments in various educational institutions through TETFUND amounting to about N18.3 billion between 2011 and 2021.
Echono explained that TETFUND had received more funding under President Muhammadu Buhari than any other administration in the past 21 years.
Earlier, the Vice Chancellor, Benue State University, Makurdi, Professor Tor Iorapuu commended TETFUND for the gesture and appealed for more interventions to address the infrastructural deficit affecting the institution.
Professor Iorapuu also acknowledged the role of Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU whose initiative led to the establishment of TETFUND during the military junta.
The Vice Chancellor however urged ASUU to modify its strategies of engagement with the Nigerian Government in making demands for improvement of welfare for its members.
The projects inaugurated include an academic office Complex, block of offices at College of Health Sciences, Faculty of Education complex, Health and Counselling Development centre as well as Centre for Research and Innovation.
Confidence Okwuchi
