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Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund)-sponsored projects worth ₦2.8bn has been inaugurated at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University (NAU) Awka, Anambra State.
The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Benjamin Kalu, while inaugurating the projects, said the structures would enhance teaching, learning and improve academic standards in the university.
The projects included lecture halls, faculty building for Social Sciences, Department of Psychology building for Social Sciences and laboratory/offices for Faculty of Pharmacy.
Others were classrooms and block of offices for Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Departmental office block for Faculty of Education (Vocational Studies).
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Kalu who was represented by Mrs Chinwe Nnabuife, member representing Orumba North and South Federal Constituency, commended TETFund for their efforts in the development of public tertiary education in Nigeria.
He said: ‘In continuation of the intervention activities of TETFund, I am delighted to note that the six projects were valued at ₦2,775,227,111.78.
‘Apart from support for physical infrastructure and equipment, TETFund has also sponsored 126 lecturers for Ph.D from this university in foreign and local institutions costing N1,328,493,656.00; a total of 26 lecturers for Masters Degrees in both foreign and local institutions costing N180,742,032.50; and 10 lecturers for Bench Work costing N51,802,260.00.
‘A lecturer was sponsored for Postdoc totaling N8,200,000.00 while 416 staff have been sponsored for conferences locally and abroad at a total cost of N315,722,010.20,’ he said.
The Deputy Speaker said the National Assembly would continue to work with the Executive to make educational institutions globally competitive for economic and technological development of the country.
He Congratulated the management of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University for the developmental strides at the institution.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary of TETFund, Mr Sonny Echono, said the Fund’s interventions to the university commenced in 2009 and a total of N10,567,075,176.00 had been allocated for infrastructure-related interventions so far.
Echono, represented by Mr Inene Erivwo, Director Strategic Planning and Development, said about 87.33 per cent of the funds had already been accessed for the provision of requisite facilites in the university.
He assured that the Fund would continue to support the university’s drive for creativity through meaningful research endeavours and provision of necessary infrastructure.
Earlier, the Vice Chancellor Prof. Charles Esimone said the inauguration of the projects was part of activities marking the 17th Convocation and Graduation ceremony of the institution.
Esimone appreciated TETFund and the contractors of the project for their efforts in ensuring the completion of the facilities.
