Education: Over N18bn spent on projects in Benue Tertiary institutions – TETFund
By Titus Atondu, Makurdi
The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has revealed that over N18.83 billion has been spent in provision of physical infrastructure interventions between 2011 and 2021 in Benue Tertiary Institutions.
The Executive Secretary, TETFund, Sunday Echonu disclosed this on Thursday when he was delivering a speech at Benue State University, Makurdi during the Commissioning of six projects executed in the institution with TETFund.
The Executive Secretary explained that the Federal Government, through TETFund has made huge investments in the provision of requisite infrastructure to aid teaching, learning and research in the nation’s public tertiary institutions spread all over the country.
According to him, in Benue State, where the Fund has eight (8) beneficiary institutions, TETFund has invested
about N18.83 billion in provision of physical infrastructure interventions between 2011 and 2021.
“This is apart from the content-based interventions through which the Fund sponsors the capacity development of both teaching and non-teaching staff for acquisition of higher degree qualifications, as well as attendance of conferences, locally and internationally. TETFund as an interventionist agency, has ensured equity in the allocation of funds to the three tiers of its beneficiaries in line with the enabling laws governing the activities of the agency.
“Considering the large volume of such infrastructure, the Fund thought it best to showcase the achievements of this administration through the commissioning of iconic projects being completed by our beneficiary institutions, as an attestation to the commitment of government to ensuring that our institutions attain higher global rankings in the delivery of academic content within a conducive environment.
“Although, we may not be there yet, it is nonetheless pertinent to remark that the journey towards this envisioned future has been progressive, notwithstanding the various dynamics occurring in the nation’s economy,” he added.
Vice Chancellor of Benue State University, Makurdi earlier, said TETFund has so committed over N9billion in executing projects in the university
“In addition to the projects to be commissioned today, from 1999 till date, TETFund has committed a total of N9,277,732,123.0bn to the University far content-based intervention as well as development and upgrading of infrastructure.
“Our campus is dominated with TetFund-sponsored legacy structures including the Central Library laboratories, lecture theatres, faculty buildings, student social centre, and entrepreneurship development centre, not excluding research (IBR, NRF, ARJ, AMB), academic training and conferences (foreign and local), post-doctoral, bench work and developments in ICT,” he noted.
Earlier Minister of Special Duties and Inter Governmental Affairs said, the Fund has sponsored 20,332 lecturers from the University for Ph.D degrees in both foreign and local institutions totaling N153,521,887,426.41; 16,153 and Masters Degrees in both foreign and local institutions totaling N42,276,142,212.13.
He further noted that for Post doctorate, it sponsord 92 totaling N951,568,084.80, 994 for Bench work totaling N 5,052,165,039.48, while 54,229.00 staff have been sponsored to attend Conferences, attendance in both foreign and local totaling – N23,199,986,710.49.
