By CHARLES IWUOHA

President Bola Tinubu on Friday commissioned TETFund sponsored projects at the Ebonyi State University permanent site in Abakiliki.

Tinubu described education as one of the most critical sectors of national development that would be given priority by his renewed hope administration agenda.

The President, who represented by the Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, 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 Budget which is now before the National Assembly for consideration.

“TETFund is playing vital roles in our educational system. TETFund has over the yearsplayed the role of bridging the gap of infrastructure and research in our tertiary institutions,” he said.

He commended the Governor, Rt. Hon. Francis Nwifuru, for the enabling environment provided by the state which saw to the successful completion of the TETFund sponsored projects.

“I want to thank you very much our dear Governor. You are well suited for this position,” Umahi said.

He also lauded the TETFund management for the sense of prudence and value for money exhibited in the course of the execution of the TETFund projects in the University and gave assurances that education and road infrastructure among other critical sectors of the economy shall attract unprecedented commitment of the Renewed Hope administration for therejigging of the national economy.

In his earlier address, Governor Nwifuru described as laudable the TETFund sponsored projects in the University and commended the Federal Government for finding the State worthy of benefiting from such funding from TETFund.

“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,” he said.

The Governor expressed hope that TETFund would give more interventions to the state, noting that a lot of interventions had eluded the State especially infrastructural interventions from Federal Government and the State is hoping to benefit more from the Federal Government.

Responding, the Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Chigozie Ogbu, and the Executive Secretary of TETFund, Arc. Sonny S T Echono, commended President Tinubu for his manifest commitment in raising the bar in educational development in Nigeria, particularly his interest in the development of tertiary education.

Ogbu 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.

The executive secretary of TETFund on his own part said he was optimistic that the sponsored projects in the University would strengthen their efforts in becoming a global player in the tertiary education sub-sector and significantly contribute to educational research and development.

The projects commissioned includes, Faculty of Education, four-floor structure containing 27 classrooms, 3 major teaching laboratories, 66 offices, Faculty Library and 2 lecture theaters. The classrooms, offices, laboratories and lecture theatres are furnished among others.