China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) has handed over the Transportation University worth $50 million to the Federal government.

CCECC had embarked on the construction of the University in Daura, Katsina state as part of their Social Responsibility to Nigeria.

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Speaking at the handing-over ceremony in Abuja at the weekend, the Minister of Transportation, Sen. Said Alkali who stated that the completion of the Federal University Daura is indeed a huge achievement and of significant value for economic growth and social well-being through societal development.

The Minister said the Transportation University “is unique in form, standard in structure and has satisfied the requirement of the National University Commission (NUC), which attracted the enactment of its establishment Act No. 34 of 2022.

“The marvellous undertaking in support of educational development of Nigerian students and its initiative to hand-over the university to the Federal Ministry of Transportation for operation by management of the university is commendable”.

Alkali further explained that “barely seven months from October 2023, the Ministry under my leadership facilitated the release of some funds by CCECC from the capital allocation of Phase 1 of the project to fund logistics, travelling, sourcing for approvals for take-off, development of relevant documents for NUC, liaising with the Budget Office of the Federation, Accountant General of the Federation, Office of the Secretary of the Government of the Federation, TETFUND, neighbouring Universities to secure mentorship, JAMB and the Federal Ministry of Education.

“As a result of this intervention and personal contacts with Ministries, the university has commenced academic activities for 2023/2024 session with principal officers/few support staff appointed; approval for take-off grant by the TETFUND has been granted, waiver for recruiting of essential staff has also been granted and the University has been graciously placed on the nation’s budget by His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR to facilitate the realisation of the Renewed Hope Agenda, given the role of transportation as an enabler of economic growth” he stated.

On his part, the Chairman of CCECC, Jason Zhang, stated that the completion of the Federal University Daura marked a significant milestone in the realisation and dedication through deliverance of long-expected vision.

According to a statement by the Ministry of Transportation, Zhang noted that the existence of the university would strengthen the relationship between Nigeria and the Republic of China.

He said the Federal University of Transportation, Daura is an investment by CCECC with a total amount of $50 million dollars as one of the ways to give back to Nigeria, to help in technical advancement, adding that the implementation of the project has provided more than 600 jobs while many technical exchange programs have been conducted.

The Vice-Chancellor, Federal University of Daura, Prof. Umar Adam Katsayal applauded the Chairman of the CCECC and his team for their outstanding support and dedication to the actualisation of the university.

He therefore called on all Nigerians to use the opportunity to enrol themselves before people from other countries take advantage of the university. (Nigerian Tribune)

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