The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) spearheaded a significant infrastructural development initiative at the Federal University of Kashere (FUK), Gombe State, marking a substantial investment in Nigeria’s higher education landscape. The cornerstone of this initiative was the foundation laying ceremony for a new Senate Building, a project estimated at N4 billion and personally approved by President Bola Tinubu. This endeavor signifies the government’s commitment to bolstering tertiary institutions across the nation, providing them with modern facilities to foster academic excellence and research.
TETFund Executive Secretary, Sonny Echono, emphasized the organization’s dedication to supporting institutions like FUK with essential resources. He highlighted TETFund’s impressive track record, revealing the completion of 687 capital projects in various higher institutions nationwide within the past two and a half years. This impressive figure underscores the scale of TETFund’s intervention and its profound impact on the physical development of Nigeria’s educational infrastructure. The new Senate Building at FUK is designed to be a comprehensive administrative hub, housing various offices, including those of the Vice-Chancellor, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), and other key administrative personnel. Its multi-story structure will accommodate a council chamber, committee rooms, an archive, and numerous offices for efficient management and operations.
President Tinubu, represented by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, hailed the event as a monumental stride towards fortifying educational infrastructure and broadening access to quality higher education. He recognized FUK’s role not only in promoting academic excellence but also in catalyzing socio-economic transformation within the region. The President’s endorsement of this project underscores the government’s recognition of education as a critical driver of national development and its commitment to investing in its future.
FUK Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Umaru Pate, expressed gratitude for TETFund’s unwavering support. He highlighted three other recently completed projects funded by the agency: a postgraduate students’ hostel, a 500-capacity lecture theatre, and the College of Medical Sciences Complex. These projects represent a significant boost to the university’s capacity and its ability to provide a conducive learning environment for its students. The postgraduate hostel will offer comfortable accommodation for postgraduate students, while the lecture theatre will provide a modern learning space for lectures and presentations. The College of Medical Sciences Complex will significantly enhance the university’s medical training capabilities.
The naming of the Medical College after the late Prof. Jibril Aminu, a prominent figure in Nigerian medicine and education, serves as a fitting tribute to his remarkable contributions. This gesture not only honors Prof. Aminu’s legacy but also inspires future generations of medical professionals to strive for excellence. Governor Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State expressed his appreciation to TETFund and the federal government for their continuous support to FUK, acknowledging the university’s remarkable progress in a relatively short period. He attributed this success to the collaborative efforts between the government and intervention agencies like TETFund, emphasizing the importance of partnerships in driving educational development. The governor’s remarks underscore the significance of collaboration between different stakeholders in fostering the growth and development of educational institutions.
The inauguration ceremonies for the various completed projects marked a celebratory culmination of the collaborative efforts between TETFund, the Federal Government, and the university. The inauguration of the 500-seater lecture theatre by Governor Yahaya, the Postgraduate Hostel and Jibril Aminu Medical College Complex by Prof. Pate, and the hostel for the College of Medical Sciences by Senator Danjuma Goje signify the official handover of these facilities for use by the university community. These new facilities are expected to enhance the teaching and learning experience at FUK, contributing to the production of highly skilled graduates who can contribute meaningfully to national development. The TETFund’s investment in FUK is a testament to its commitment to promoting quality education in Nigeria and its belief in the transformative power of education.
